Flowers, James Richard

Individual Personnel Data
Name Flowers, James Richard
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-761291
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #91 dated 16 May 1944, effective 16 May 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 8 September 1944
Results Transferred
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 7 March 1921
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Deming AAF, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Class #43-17, 4 December 1943.
  • Transferred in grade to the Casual Pool, 8th AFRD, AAF Station 594 on 8 September 1944 per Squadron Morning Report.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Gibson, James Allen⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Preller, Robert Henry, "Bob, Rob"⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. O'Neill, John Patrick⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Flowers, James RichardBombardierTR
S/SGT. Gramc, Edward (NMI)⇗Radio Operator / GunnerTR
S/SGT. Bowers, Henry Melvin⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Holderbaum, Kenneth (NMI), Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerTR
SGT. Kennemer, Frank Winifred⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Gilmore, James Karry, Jr⇗Flexible GunnerCT
PVT. Lafferty, Cornelius Michael⇗Flexible GunnerTR

Crew History

The Gibson Crew was formed at Drew Field (now Tampa International Airport) in Tampa, Florida in March 1944. After crew training, they picked up a new B-17G at Hunter Field, Georgia on 29 April and flew it to England via Dow Army Airfield, Bangor, Maine, RCAF Station Gander, Newfoundland, and Iceland in early May. The crew then moved to the 8th Air Force Replacement Depot at Stone, Staffordshire, for theater orientation while awaiting their combat assignment. They joined the 546th BS on 16 May 1944 as a replacement crew. The squadron crew number is currently unknown.
About half the crew flew nearly all its missions together: Lafferty flew no missions with Gibson, Gramc was transferred to the 305th BG with the Fitzgerald Crew, Holderbaum was removed from flying status, and the others were reassigned as needed by the Army. All survived the war without loss.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 18 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
117⇗ 28 May 1944 Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
119⇗ 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland 		Bombardier 42‑97142⇗ 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 		Bombardier 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
125⇗ 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France 		Bombardier 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Bombardier 42‑97273⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Bombardier 42‑102601⇗ Combat Mission Credit
J Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
130⇗ 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France 		Bombardier 42‑107057⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Bombardier 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Group. Bombed Primary Target.
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Bombardier 42‑102501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97948⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Navigator 42‑102501⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group Flying Spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Navigator 42‑107058⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High group flying spare. Turned back because he couldn't locate formation. A contributing factor was a broken radiocompass antenna.
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Bombardier 42‑102500⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
184⇗ 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107083⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
185⇗ 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107083⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗

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