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Foster, Erwin Vernon

Individual Personnel Data
Name Foster, Erwin Vernon   ‡
⇗
Rank Corporal / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 32588280   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #144 dated 22 July 1944, effective 22 July 1944.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 22 April 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 12 February 1920
  • Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #158 dated 6 August 1944.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #180 dated 9 September 1944.
  • Ordered on seven days Temporary Duty to Erbington Manor, AAF Station 498 (a Flak house) on 18 December 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #248 dated 17 December 1944.
  • Reclassified from MOS 611 to MOS 612 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #25 dated 1 February 1945.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant effective 3 February 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #27 dated 3 February 1945.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Buslee, John Oliver⇗PilotKIA
2nd Lt. Albrecht, David Franklin⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Rybarczyk, Chester Anthony⇗NavigatorCT
1st Lt. Fryden, Marvin (NMI)⇗BombardierKIA
SGT. Peluso, Sebastiano Joseph⇗Radio Operator / GunnerKIA
SGT. Seeley, Clarence Burdell⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Foster, Erwin VernonBall Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Lucynski, Eugene Daniel⇗Tail GunnerWIA
CPL. Bryant, Lenard Leroy⇗Flexible GunnerKIA
SGT. Farrar, George Edwin⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 35 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37982⇗ Combat Mission Credit
A flak shell exploded beside the nose of "Tremblin Gremlin" on the bomb run. "I'm hit" said the bombardier, 1st Lt. Marvin Fryden, but he remained at his bombsight until bombs-away, then collapsed. He had been hit in the chest, and subsequently died of his wounds. Schwery (pilot) and Seeley (TT) were also wounded, and the plane was severely damaged, barely making it back to England to land at Halesworth, AAF Station 365, on two engines, with no brakes, and many flak holes.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6149⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Ball Turret 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
183⇗ 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
203⇗ 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Dropped bombs early, reason unknown.
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38615⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
206⇗ 6 October 1944 Target: M/T Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Stettin / Szczecin, Poland 		Ball Turret 43‑38615⇗ Combat Mission Credit
D group.
Sortie Report⇗
211⇗ 15 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
213⇗ 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. PFF ship. Took over on bomb run after lead Gee-h equipment failed, but too late to bomb primary. Led Squadron to attack secondary by PFF.
Sortie Report⇗
214⇗ 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, Group Deputy. Gee-H ship. Took over at IP and led Squadron on bomb run.
Sortie Report⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
218⇗ 2 November 1944 Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship. Gee-H equipment failed before IP. Attempted to follow low Squadron, but they turned off the bomb run. Then tried to catch lead Squadron, but were unable. Then led Squadron to a visual attack on the briefed last resort target.
Sortie Report⇗
219⇗ 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Gee-H ship; lead Squadron deputy. Took lead for bomb run and bombing with Gee-H.
Sortie Report⇗
223⇗ 9 November 1944 Target: Ground Installations
Type: Military
Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France 		Ball Turret 44‑6512⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
224⇗ 10 November 1944 Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Squadron, Squadron Lead. PFF ship. Marion Chase, Engineer: 'Feathered #3 after flak hit oil cooler and we lost our oil.'
Sortie Report⇗
227⇗ 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Gee-H ship; lead Squadron deputy, 41st Bomb Wing C group. The mission commander's narrative states: 'A/C 8016 (Pilot Gilbert) returned early due to engine failure. Bombs were jettisoned.' According to Marion Chase, Engineer: 'Five minutes before target, had a runaway prop and finally feathered it due to vibration. At 29,000 ft. we could not climb and lost our formation. Came back alone.'
Sortie Report⇗
229⇗ 25 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead; landed away at Aldermaston.
Sortie Report⇗
232⇗ 29 November 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑8216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Gilbert Crew took off in 43‑38016 but lost #2 engine; landed and moved to this aircraft.
Sortie Report⇗
234⇗ 2 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship. Unable to determine if any aircraft were below his Squadron on the first bomb run, he elected to make a second run, which was successful. This meant the Squadron had to return to base without the protection of the bomber stream.
Sortie Report⇗
238⇗ 11 December 1944 Target: Road & Rail Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy, B Group. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
248⇗ 1 January 1945 Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship. Waist Gunner hit by flak but was saved by flak suit. After unsuccessful runs on the primary and secondary PFF targets, this Squadron broke formation and returned to bomb the secondary PFF target by visual means.
Sortie Report⇗
257⇗ 20 January 1945 Target: Rail and Road Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; PFF ship. Landed away at RAF Waterbeach, Cambridgeshire.
Sortie Report⇗
265⇗ 9 February 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑8580⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
269⇗ 20 February 1945 Target: Main Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead; PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
270⇗ 21 February 1945 Target: Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
271⇗ 22 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Ülzen, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑39138⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
272⇗ 23 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Plauen, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6590⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
273⇗ 24 February 1945 Target: Submarine Construction Shipyard
Type: Shipyards
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6590⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
275⇗ 26 February 1945 Target: Schlesicher Railroad Station (Bahnhof)
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6590⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
277⇗ 28 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hagen, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6892⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗

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