Thompson, Willard Hayes

Individual Personnel Data
Name Thompson, Willard Hayes, "Will"
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-815555
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #56 dated 24 March 1944, effective 24 March 1944.
Duty Co-pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 3 August 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 3 November 1922
  • Granted a four day sick leave of absence effective on or about 27 April 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #78 dated 26 April 1944.
  • Granted a seven day sick leave of absence effective 15 July 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #137 dated 14 July 1944.



Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Gowder, Charles Fred⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Thompson, Willard Hayes, "Will"Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Fazio, Vincent Joseph, "Vince"⇗NavigatorKIA
2nd Lt. Brooks, James Joseph, "JJ"⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Barnes, Francis Eugene⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Beaugh, George (NMI), "Opelousas Kid"⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
PVT. Sacco, Salvatore R, "Sal"⇗Ball Turret GunnerTR
SGT. Williamson, James Edward, "Cotton"⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Leber, Richard Edward, "Dick"⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 32 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑107058⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑107058⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Manston, Kent, on return due to crew casualties and battle damage. This aircraft had two killed and four wounded aboard. 2nd Lt. Charles Gowder was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. S/Sgt. James E. Williamson, tail gunner, was awarded the Silver Star.
Sortie Report⇗
109⇗ 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑107057⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
111⇗ 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group A.
Sortie Report⇗
112⇗ 22 May 1944 Target: Warehouse District in the Dock Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
114⇗ 24 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
116⇗ 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
117⇗ 28 May 1944 Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
120⇗ 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead Group, original Low Squadron Deputy. Turned back at 0952 hrs due to illness of tail gunner.
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 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Co-pilot 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
M Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Group, High Squadron Lead. Bombed Primary Target.
Sortie Report⇗
133⇗ 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France 		Co-pilot 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Co-pilot 42‑107121⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
135⇗ 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
136⇗ 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
141⇗ 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
142⇗ 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead. Turned back over base at 0545 hrs due to illness of ball turret gunner.
Sortie Report⇗
143⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: V-2 Storage & Launch Site
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Co-pilot 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Co-pilot 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
151⇗ 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France 		Co-pilot 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
152⇗ 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Blanc Pignon Ferme, Cléty, France 		Co-pilot 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
153⇗ 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report⇗
155⇗ 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
156⇗ 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
157⇗ 13 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
163⇗ 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑107058⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
166⇗ 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑97948⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗

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