Sarto, Joseph Michael

Individual Personnel Data
Name Sarto, Joseph Michael
⇗
Rank First Lieutenant / Captain
Serial Number O-729573
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #156 dated 4 August 1944, effective 2 August 1944.
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #225 dated 14 November 1944, effective 14 November 1944.
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #257 dated 26 December 1944, effective 26 December 1944.
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #10 dated 12 January 1945, effective 12 January 1945.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 13 January 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Assigned from 305th Bomb Group.
  • Granted a seven day sick leave of absence effective 20 August 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #166 dated 19 August 1944.
  • Designated Group Radar Navigator (primary) effective 26 December 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #257 dated 26 December 1944.
Related Documents A Remembrance Of Joe Sarto⇓ (0.191 MB)



Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 24 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 		Navigator 42‑97699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead. PFF Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship. Lt. Col. Calhoun aboard as Wing Commander (possibly from 41st CBW HQ).
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship. Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
196⇗ 19 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF ship; wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st CBW C Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
200⇗ 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97592⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97986⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Deputy lead. This aircraft led the group on two PFF runs, was hit by flak over target area and lost two engines; could not keep up with group and was going to land in Belgium; plane was under control, but was reported to explode at about 2,000' altitude. However, while it was out of commission for about two months, it was back flying combat missions in December.
Sortie Report⇗
210⇗ 14 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
213⇗ 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Navigator 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⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
217⇗ 1 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Division lead. PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
222⇗ 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
223⇗ 9 November 1944 Target: Ground Installations
Type: Military
Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France 		Navigator 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Division lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
229⇗ 25 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead; PFF ship; landed away at Aldermaston, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
232⇗ 29 November 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
233⇗ 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
234⇗ 2 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Division lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
239⇗ 12 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
240⇗ 18 December 1944 Target: Road Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Gemünd, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
247⇗ 31 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Neuss, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8221⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Division lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Led a normal Gee-H bombing run with the low Squadron releasing on the lead.
Sortie Report⇗
248⇗ 1 January 1945 Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany 		Visual (Pilotage) Navigator 44‑8216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship. Prevented from attacking the primary target by weather, led an attack on the secondary PFF target, but did not attack when PFF equipment failed. After several additional failed attempts to attack the secondary and last resort targets, finally attacked a target of opportunity (TOO).
Sortie Report⇗
249⇗ 2 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gerolstein, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8221⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. with Lt. Col William C Sipes of the 41st Combat Bombardment Wing as Air Commander. PFF & Gee-H ship. Gee-H failed prior to IP; turned over lead to high Squadron. Did not attack target because bombardier noticed, approaching the bomb release point (high Squadron leading), that they were a mile to the left of the target. Bombs were held with the intention of making another run, but the remainder of the group had dropped on the high Squadron leader.
Sortie Report⇗
255⇗ 15 January 1945 Target: Neuburg Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Neuburg an der Donau, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Group lead. PFF ship. Aborted 30 minutes prior to IP due to mechanical problems. Ordered low Squadron into lead before departing. Bombed a target of opportunity (TOO) during return.
Sortie Report⇗

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