Klanke, Edward Franklin

Individual Personnel Data
Name Klanke, Edward Franklin   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 37417109   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #139 dated 16 July 1944, effective 16 July 1944.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 1 January 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 9 April 1912
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #175 dated 1 September 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Hughes, Robert Davis⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Evans, Hugh Legar⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Rasmussen, John Christian⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Gabriel, Joseph Albert⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Klanke, Edward FranklinRadio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Burns, Arlington (NMI)⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Bellovary, John Joseph, Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Russell, Lester Hebran, Jr⇗Tail GunnerPOW
SGT. Erich, Milton Benjamin⇗Flexible GunnerKIA
SGT. Siffert, Charles William, "Chuck"⇗Flexible GunnerTR
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 32 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Radio Operator 42‑102617⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Radio Operator 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
166⇗ 28 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France 		Radio Operator 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Radio Operator 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
J Group Flying Spare. Joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑37822⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Radio Operator 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Radio Operator 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
179⇗ 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France 		Radio Operator 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
180⇗ 14 August 1944 Target: Echterdingen Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97320⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low group. Turned back with a broken exhaust stack in #3 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
181⇗ 16 August 1944 Target: Delitzsch Air Field and Air Equipment Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Delitzsch, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Radio Operator 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
184⇗ 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, low group. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑39888.
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Radio Operator 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
188⇗ 5 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship, low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
190⇗ 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
192⇗ 11 September 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Manston, Kent, with major battle damage.
Sortie Report⇗
195⇗ 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands 		Radio Operator 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
B Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
C Wing, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
199⇗ 26 September 1944 Target: Steelworks
Type: Industry
Location: Osnabrück, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
200⇗ 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38615⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
203⇗ 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
206⇗ 6 October 1944 Target: M/T Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Stettin / Szczecin, Poland 		Radio Operator 44‑8211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
D group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
208⇗ 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
210⇗ 14 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron deputy. Gee-H and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
226⇗ 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Stratford, due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
228⇗ 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
233⇗ 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
238⇗ 11 December 1944 Target: Road & Rail Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
239⇗ 12 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
248⇗ 1 January 1945 Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship. Waist Gunner hit by flak but was saved by flak suit. After unsuccessful runs on the primary and secondary PFF targets, this Squadron broke formation and returned to bomb the secondary PFF target by visual means.
Sortie Report⇗

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