Burger, Joseph Earnest

Individual Personnel Data
Name Burger, Joseph Earnest   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 32373835   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #129 dated 27 October 1943, effective 27 October 1943.
  • Transferred to the Casual Pool 70th Reinforcement Depot Station 569, per 544th Morning Report dated 22 April 1945, effective 22 April 1945.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 22 April 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 30 November 1921
  • Rescued after ditching on 26 November 1943 with the Morrison Crew.
  • Placed on Temporary Duty for seven days on or about 30 November 1943 to American Red Cross Club, Southport (a FLAK House) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #156 dated 29 November 1943.
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #29 dated 12 February 1944.
  • Transferred to the 305th BG on 20 March 1944 (squadron history, microfilm A0640-01427).
  • Transferred to the 305th Bombardment Group, Station 110, effective 18 March 1944. Departed 1400 (hrs) 20 March 1944 per Squadron Morning Report, 20 March 1944.
  • From Detached Service (DS) with 305th Bomb Group to duty effective 10 June 1944 per Squadron Morning Report, 12 June 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 1579⇓ (30.215 MB)
'Valor: The Saga of Barrel House Bessie' in Air Force Magazine⇗
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Morrison, Donald Sylvester⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. DeMille, Robert Eversley⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Childs, Everett Lynn⇗NavigatorEV
2nd Lt. Pitelka, Francis Jerome⇗BombardierTR
T/SGT. Striesfeld, Nathan (NMI)⇗Radio Operator / GunnerTR
T/SGT. Henry, Maurice Victor, "Red"⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerMIA
S/SGT. Engwer, Donald Leroy⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Schamber, Albert Martin⇗Tail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Bucher, James Frank⇗Flexible GunnerMIA
S/SGT. Burger, Joseph EarnestFlexible GunnerCT

Crew History

The ten members of the Morrison Crew arrived at two different times: the officers arrived on 6 October 1943, and the enlisted men arrived on 27 October 1943. Evidence linking them together as a single crew was obtained from a photo taken during their stateside training (the photo does not include Schamber). Navigator Childs flew his first mission with another crew on 14 November 1943 and was shot down, thus not flying any missions with the Morrison Crew. The other members flew at least one mission each with Morrison, but it is clear that the crew identity was lost - at least on combat missions. Morrison, DeMille, Engwer, and Burger were transferred to the 305th BG on 20 March 1944, and all returned to the 384th in April 1944. Bucher (MIA), Henry (MIA), and Schamber (KIA) did not survive their tours; Childs was shot down but evaded capture.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 17 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3429⇗ Maj. Gilmore
Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5051⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5051⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Damaged by flak, ditched in the North Sea near the English coast, with most of the crew rescued; MACR 1579; T/Sgt. Maurice Henry awarded posthumous Distinguished Service Cross, Owens p.195; Maj. William Gilmore awarded Silver Star, Owens p. 198.
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
45⇗ 22 December 1943 Target: Steel Shops/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 41‑24560⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Composite Squadron; turned back at 1016 hrs because of oxygen failure in top turret; system dropped to zero and after it was recharged to 250 lbs it again dropped to 120 lbs in 15 mins; 18 M47A1s rtd
Sortie Report⇗
48⇗ 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37727⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Alconbury; bombs returned.
Sortie Report⇗
50⇗ 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑39784⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Bomb load included 'Nickles' (propaganda leaflets) in addition to six 500-pound bombs.
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑3429⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 41‑24560⇗ Scrubbed: Did Not Take Off
Low group high Squadron. Did not take off.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37885⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37885⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st B Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑3440⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
61⇗ 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31235⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑29828⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31235⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31495⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, high composite group.
Sortie Report⇗

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.