384th 2025 REUNION
INFORMATION PAGE⇗

Shaputis, John Veto

Individual Personnel Data
Name Shaputis, John Veto   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 16046665   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #84 dated 5 May 1944, effective 5 May 1944.
  • Transferred to the 12th RCD (Special Orders #207, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division), per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 28 July 1944, effective 28 July 1944.
Duty Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 28 July 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsAwarded the Air Medal while assigned to the 15th Air Force.
Awarded four oak leaf clusters the the Air Medal for 24 combat missions with the 384th Bombardment Group.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 17 April 1918
  • John V. Shaputis flew 8 combat missions with the 15th Air Force prior to being assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group.
  • He was credited with a total of 32 combat missions.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Menke, Robert Arthur⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Elias, George (NMI)⇗NavigatorCT
S/SGT. Sexton, William Hiram⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Shaputis, John VetoEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Elgin, Furman Walter⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Loya, Antonio (NMI)⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Teller, James Alvin⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Stynchula, Frank Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 28 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
105⇗ 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
106⇗ 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 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 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑102402⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
120⇗ 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
122⇗ 2 June 1944 Target: Gun Battery with six 155mm guns, Tactical Support
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (5 miles S of Boulogne), France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
124⇗ 3 June 1944 Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
125⇗ 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
129⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Highway Choke Point in City of Caen
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
132⇗ 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
133⇗ 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ 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 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
136⇗ 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑107064⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Deputy. Moved from #5 position in Low Squadron to #2 (Deputy) position in High Squadron after designated Deputy could not locate formation.
Sortie Report⇗
142⇗ 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6149⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
143⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: V-2 Storage & Launch Site
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Bomb release malfunctioned; bombs were not dropped.
Sortie Report⇗
145⇗ 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
146⇗ 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6105⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
147⇗ 27 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Storage Depot)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Saint-Martin-L'Hortier, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, 41st B section.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
152⇗ 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Blanc Pignon Ferme, Cléty, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
153⇗ 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report⇗
155⇗ 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
156⇗ 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
157⇗ 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗

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