384th 2025 REUNION
INFORMATION PAGE

Lacroix, James Joseph

Individual Personnel Data
Name Lacroix, James Joseph   
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-676887   
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #96 dated 14 September 1943, effective 14 September 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 21 March 1944 - 305th Bomb Group, effective 18 March 1944.
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #61, effective 30 March 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 2 August 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsAwarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing 31 combat missions.
Awarded the Air Medal and three oak leaf clusters for completing 21 combat missions.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 2 June 1919
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Big Spring AAF, Big Spring, Texas, Class #43-06, 22 April 1943
  • Ordered to travel to Coombe House Hotel (a 'flak house'), Semley, Dorset, for seven days beginning 21 December 1943 on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #171 dated 20 December 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty on or about 7 March 1944 to Air Force Officers Rest Home, Stanbridge Earls, Hampshire (a Flak house) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #41 dated 1 March 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
1st Lt. Kauffman, Giles Felker, Jr, "Junior"PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Molnar, George (NMI), "Hap"Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Pogorzelski, Frank (NMI), "Pogo"NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Lacroix, James JosephBombardierCT
T/SGT. Beck, Jules TheodoreRadio Operator / GunnerPOW
T/SGT. Jarrell, William (NMI), "Whataman"Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Martinez, Jacob Mendoza, "Jake"Ball Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Reuben, Stanley Thomas, "Rube"Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Spodar, Paul (NMI)Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Seniawsky, Peter (NMI)Flexible GunnerEV

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
26 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Bombardier 42‑29987 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
27 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany
Bombardier 42‑30043 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report
28 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Bombardier 42‑30043 Combat Mission Credit
Ditched North Sea; crew rescued and returned to duty.
Sortie Report
31 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany
Bombardier 42‑29717 Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Desborough due to weather.
Sortie Report
-- 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑3441 Sortie Report
34 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑3441 Combat Mission Credit
Squadron of composite group.
Sortie Report
35 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑5838 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; deputy flight lead.
Sortie Report
38 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑39796 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; oxygen system problems.
Sortie Report
39 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany
Bombardier 41‑24578 Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare; joined formation. Landed away at Manston.
Sortie Report
42 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑29927 Combat Mission Credit
Lead group, low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
43 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑29927 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
47 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑37793 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead
Sortie Report
51 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑37801 High Squadron lead; did not take off due to engine trouble.
Sortie Report
52 11 January 1944 Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany
Bombardier 42‑30026 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑3440. High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report
54 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Bombardier 42‑31433 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
58 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Bombardier 42‑39962 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report
65 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany
Bombardier 42‑37801 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41B Group, High Squadron Lead; landed away at RAF Eastchurch, Essex, due to severe snow storm.
Sortie Report
91 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany
Bombardier 42‑97139 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
94 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97637 Combat Mission Credit
PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members supplied by 305th BG.
Sortie Report
101 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bombardier 42‑31801 Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy. PFF ship and unidentified crew members provided by 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report
106 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102402 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron lead, low group. Turned back at 1025 hrs because ball turret gunner blacked out at 8000 ft.
Sortie Report
109 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bombardier 42‑31801 Combat Mission Credit
Wing Deputy. PFF ship and unidentified crew members provided by the 305th BG, Chelveston AAF, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report
111 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France
Bombardier 42‑97449 Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group A High Squadron Lead. Turned back at 1246 hrs because of an internal failure in #1 engine.
Sortie Report
112 22 May 1944 Target: Warehouse District in the Dock Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany
Bombardier 42‑31801 Combat Mission Credit
Wing Deputy. PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members provided by 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report
115 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France
Bombardier 42‑97072 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
116 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97263 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
126 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France
Bombardier 42‑97574 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead. PFF ship and unidentified crew members provided by the 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report
128 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France
Bombardier 42‑102661 Combat Mission Credit
I Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report
141 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany
Bombardier 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
142 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany
Bombardier 42‑107064 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft. replaced 44‑6080. Lead Group.
Sortie Report
145 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany
Bombardier 42‑107064 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group, 41st B wing.
Sortie Report
149 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France
Bombardier 44‑6080 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report
150 4 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France
Bombardier 42‑102449 Combat Mission Credit
High group lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report
160 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany
Bombardier 42‑38208 Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report
161 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97263 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report
162 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany
Bombardier 42‑37822 Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97263. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
163 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany
Bombardier 44‑6080 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report

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