Kaufman, Vernon Herman

Individual Personnel Data
Name Kaufman, Vernon Herman   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 37233420   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #136 dated 5 November 1943, effective 5 November 1943.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 8 May 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Washington Cemetery, Washington, Kansas
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 9 December 1921
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 4560⇓ (55.398 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Allison, Earl Thomas⇗PilotKIA
2nd Lt. Small, Herbert William⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Gardner, Sam (NMI)⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Nagel, Jack Cameron, "Big Foot"⇗BombardierKIA
S/SGT. Laubenstein, William Frederick⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
SGT. Clements, William Arlie⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Kaufman, Vernon HermanBall Turret GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Hougard, Kenneth Nels⇗Flexible GunnerEV
SGT. Kouski, William Louis⇗Flexible GunnerTR
SGT. Grimmett, James Harold⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 27 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37785⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37792⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37785⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low group. Aborted with low oil pressure in #2 engine, and engine on fire. Jettisoned bombs in North Sea and landed away at Attlebridge.
Sortie Report⇗
43⇗ 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31274⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Ball Turret 41‑24560⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
48⇗ 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France 		Ball Turret 42‑5404⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
50⇗ 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑29651⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Ball Turret 41‑24560⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Deputy. Turned back after crossing enemy coast because #2 supercharger went out.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑29717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st B Combat Wing. Turned back with 'supercharger trouble.'
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Ball Turret 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Ball Turret 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37785⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3440⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37785⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37785⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37789⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because #2 supercharger ran away.
Sortie Report⇗
71⇗ 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31235⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31235⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high composite group, 41st Composite Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
74⇗ 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37785⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1028 hrs because #3 oil temperature was 115 degrees and oil pressure was at 55 lbs at 16,000ft, with condition getting worse.
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31235⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31235⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead, 41st Combat Bombardment Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
78⇗ 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31495⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
79⇗ 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37885⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
96⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Ball Turret 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
103⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Ball Turret 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Group lead. Was hit by continuously tracking flak about 40 seconds before bomb release; aircraft received direct burst beneath the pilot's compartment; started in to a steep spiral; crashed about 7 miles SW of Valognes, France. MACR 4560
Sortie Report⇗

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