Baird, James Joseph

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Baird, James Joseph ⇗
Rank	Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number	15125628
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #72 dated 16 April 1944, effective 16 April 1944.
Duty	Flexible Gunner / Tail Gunner
MOS	611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date	8 September 1944
Results	Transferred
Decorations	Awarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received on 24 April 1944 per General Orders #66, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 3 May 1944. Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extra achievement per General Orders #75, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 5 June 1944.
Citation For Higher Decoration	DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. JAMES J. BAIRD, 15125628, Staff Sergeant, Army Air Forces, United States Army. For heroism while serving as a Waist Gunner of a B-17 airplane on a bombing mission over Germany, 24 April 1944. Sergeant Baird's aircraft was intercepted by an unusually large number of enemy fighter planes and engaged by intense and accurate anti-aircraft fire over a long period of time. Early in this action Sergeant Baird was wounded. Despite pain Sergeant Baird remained at his gun position, repeatedly fighting off enemy attacks for a period of more than two hours. Much of this time his position was further complicated by the destruction of the oxygen system. Sergeant Ba1rd refused to leave his position until the safety of the formation had been assured on the return journey. His unusual courage, tenacity of purpose and devotion to duty has been an inspiration to this entire organization, reflecting the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered military service from Ohio. Source: HQ 1st Bomb Division General Orders #75, 5 June 1944
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 16 October 1920 Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station Special Orders #81 dated 1 May 1944. Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to American Red Cross Club, Spetchley Park, Worchester (a Flak House) on 19 June 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #115 dated 18 June 1944. 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. Hale, Charles Eugene⇗	Pilot	CT
2nd Lt. Grant, Walter Edward⇗	Co-pilot	POW
2nd Lt. Swisher, Glenn Everett⇗	Navigator	CT
2nd Lt. Morris, Arthur Joseph⇗	Bombardier	TBD
S/SGT. Richardson, William Earl⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	CT
S/SGT. Burlingame, James Wyatt⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	CT
SGT. Greene, Henry Tyler, Jr⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	CT
SGT. Asher, John Calvin⇗	Tail Gunner	CT
SGT. Baird, James Joseph	Flexible Gunner	TR
SGT. Menchaca, Jose Ricardo⇗	Flexible Gunner	CT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
94⇗	24 April 1944	Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑102449⇗	Combat Mission Credit High Squadron deputy, lead group. Sortie Report⇗
116⇗	27 May 1944	Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Mannheim, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑97237⇗	Combat Mission Credit Lead Group. Sortie Report⇗
117⇗	28 May 1944	Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Dessau, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑37792⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
119⇗	29 May 1944	Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑97237⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
120⇗	30 May 1944	Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑97263⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Lead Group, original Wing Deputy. Turned back at 0948 hrs because #2 and #3 engines failed. Sortie Report⇗
130⇗	7 June 1944	Target: Transportation Hub Type: Military Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France	Tail Gunner	44‑6080⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
131⇗	8 June 1944	Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D) Type: Transportation Location: Orleans, France	Tail Gunner	42‑97237⇗	Combat Mission Credit 41C Wing, Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗
132⇗	10 June 1944	Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B) Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nantes & Vannes, France	Tail Gunner	42‑97263⇗	Combat Mission Credit 41A Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗
133⇗	12 June 1944	Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W Type: Transportation Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France	Tail Gunner	44‑6128⇗	Combat Mission Credit Flying Spare Aircraft. Joined formation. Sortie Report⇗
134⇗	13 June 1944	Target: Dreux Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Dreux, France	Tail Gunner	44‑6135⇗	Combat Mission Credit High Group, Low Squadron Deputy. 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	Tail Gunner	44‑6128⇗	Combat Mission Credit 41D Group, Low Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗
153⇗	7 July 1944	Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Leipzig, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑97237⇗	Combat Mission Credit High group, 41st A wing. Sortie Report⇗
154⇗	8 July 1944	Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Renescure, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	44‑6080⇗	Combat Mission Credit Wing deputy. Sortie Report⇗
160⇗	18 July 1944	Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑97150⇗	Combat Mission Credit 41B Group, High Squadron Lead. Sortie Report⇗
183⇗	24 August 1944	Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant Type: Oil Industry Location: Merseburg, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑38208⇗	Combat Mission Credit High section deputy, high group. Sortie Report⇗

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