Lessig, Joseph Watson

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Lessig, Joseph Watson ‡ ⇗
Rank	Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number	O-804355 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #34 dated 20 February 1944, effective 20 February 1944. Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #74 dated 5 March 1945, effective 25 March 1945. Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 547TH Bomb Squadron Morning Report - 70th Reinforcement Depot AAF 594, effective 30 May 1945.
Duty	Pilot
MOS	1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date	30 May 1945
Results	Interned, Neutral Country
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 17 April 1920 Interned in Switzerland on 18 March 1944, returned to duty in the 547th Bomb Squadron effective 25 March 1945 and further designated Assistant Group S-2 Officer (primary) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #74 dated 5 April 1945. Promoted to First Lieutenant per HQ 8th Air Force Special Orders #152 dated 1 June 1945.
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 2 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
75⇗	16 March 1944	Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany	Co-pilot	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	Co-pilot	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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