Freeman, Willard Edward

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Freeman, Willard Edward ‡ ⇗
Rank	Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number	32454255 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per HQ 384th Bomb Group, Sioux City, Iowa, Special Orders #93 dated 19 April 1943, effective 19 April 1943.
Duty	Ball Turret Gunner / Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS	757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date	4 July 1943
Results	Evaded Capture
Decorations	Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 4 July 1943 per General Orders #228, Headquarters, 8th Air Force dated 15 December 1943.
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 22 September 1913 Assigned to fly to England aboard aircraft 42-30045, R. Manning pilot, per Kearney Special Orders #96 dated 17 May 1943. Promoted to Staff Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #40 dated 1 July 1943. Promoted to Technical Sergeant on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #173 dated 23 December 1943, after having returned to the squadron after evading capture since being shot down in July.
Related Documents	Escape & Evasion Report # 263⇓ (6.604 MB) Post Loss Document File #5⇗

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 3 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗	22 June 1943	Target: General Motors Truck Factory Type: Industry Location: Antwerp, Belgium	Ball Turret	42‑30139⇗	Combat Mission Credit Bomb rack did not work on toggle; bombs jettisoned in the Channel. Sortie Report⇗
3⇗	26 June 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Ball Turret	42‑30139⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
4⇗	28 June 1943	Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France	Ball Turret	42‑30139⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back with #2 supercharger malfunctioning. Sortie Report⇗
6⇗	4 July 1943	Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France	Ball Turret	42‑29960⇗	Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return Low Squadron Deputy. Damaged by flak after the target, then further attacked by Me-109s; crashed near Belfonds, France. No MACR Sortie Report⇗

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