Saunders, Rufus Milton

Individual Personnel Data
Name Saunders, Rufus Milton   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 18078312   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #91 dated 16 May 1944, effective 16 May 1944.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 3 October 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 12 March 1921
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 107 dated 8 June 1944.
  • Granted a seven day convalescent furlough effective 19 July 1944 per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 19 July 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Shelley, John Keith⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. McCartney, James Thomas⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Adelman, Efrom Milton, "Milton"⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Parker, Max Franklin⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Sapolin, Morton (NMI)⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Frisbee, Joseph Selvyn⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Saunders, Rufus MiltonBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Whittington, Dee W⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Flannery, Wade Henderson⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Snyder, Clifford Leroy⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 33 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
122⇗ 2 June 1944 Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France 		Ball Turret 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
124⇗ 3 June 1944 Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
125⇗ 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France 		Ball Turret 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
132⇗ 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
133⇗ 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Polebrook, AAF Station 110, on return, due to bad weather.
Sortie Report⇗
135⇗ 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
136⇗ 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
138⇗ 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Ball Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
140⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6135⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
141⇗ 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
145⇗ 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group 41st B wing.
Sortie Report⇗
146⇗ 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report⇗
148⇗ 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France 		Ball Turret 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy, 41st A wing. Landed away at Wattisham, AAF Station 377, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
150⇗ 4 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France 		Ball Turret 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
153⇗ 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead, 41st B wing.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
I Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
175⇗ 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Ball Turret 42‑97948⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Gee-H ship. High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
199⇗ 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
200⇗ 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
201⇗ 28 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Magdeburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
203⇗ 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Ball Turret 43‑38262⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗

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