Harper, Richard Wight

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Harper, Richard Wight ‡ ⇗
Rank	Corporal / Sergeant
Serial Number	39832430 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #34 dated 20 February 1944, effective 20 February 1944.
Duty	Flexible Gunner
MOS	612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date	18 March 1944
Results	Interned, Neutral Country
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 29 November 1921 Interned in Switzerland. Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #36 dated 23 February 1944.
Related Documents	Missing Air Crew Report # 3485⇓ (1.373 MB)
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
2nd Lt. Lessig, Joseph Watson⇗	Pilot	INT
2nd Lt. MacKichan, William Graham⇗	Co-pilot	KIA
2nd Lt. Howell, William Wright⇗	Navigator	INT
2nd Lt. Loh, Phillip Henry, III⇗	Bombardier	INT
S/SGT. Hay, James Franklin⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	INT
S/SGT. O'Brien, John Gerald⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	INT
SGT. Gormley, Edward Oliver⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	INT
SGT. Gardner, Eugene Frederick⇗	Tail Gunner	INT
CPL. Harper, Richard Wight	Flexible Gunner	INT
SGT. Froment, Dorrance Verl⇗	Flexible Gunner	INT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 3 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
71⇗	4 March 1944	Type: Military Location: Berlin, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑3441⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
75⇗	16 March 1944	Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑38158⇗	Combat Mission Credit Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑38013. Sortie Report⇗
76⇗	18 March 1944	Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑31871⇗	Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return At 1445 hrs called Group Leader saying he had two engines out and would try for home; had escort of four friendly fighters; force-landed at Dubendorf, Switzerland; MACR 3485. From 303rd BG: 'Secret equipment destroyed. Landed wheels down at Dubendorf. Wheels retracted after landing, but aircraft could not be burned because of Swiss interference. Target was bombed. Could not feather #1 engine out on bomb run. Half power obtained from engines Nos. 2 and 3 which were running rough.' Sortie Report⇗

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