Matican, Sigmund Sidney

Individual Personnel Data
Name Matican, Sigmund Sidney   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 12125825   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #38 dated 26 February 1944, effective 26 February 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Tail Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 8 May 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Montefiore Cemetery Springfield Gardens, Queens County, New York
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received on 24 April 1944 per General Orders #66, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division dated 3 May 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 7 August 1923
  • Sigmund S. Matican flew 30 combat missions with the 15th Air Force before being assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to Moulsford Manor near Cholsey, Berkshire (a Flak House) on or about 27 March 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #57 dated 25 March 1944. Amended to read Walhamoton House, Lymington Hampshire vice Moulsford Manor near Cholsey, Berkshire per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #58 dated 28 March 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 4561⇓ (4.362 MB)
Matican Diary⇓ (1.381 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Yokie, John Olivi⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Plunkett, Meredith Watson, Jr⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Donehoo, William Montgomery⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Miller, John Franklin⇗BombardierCT
T/SGT. Patterson, James Redmond⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
T/SGT. Graham, John Mebane⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
S/SGT. Wearne, Walter Eugene⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Potempa, Walter (NMI)⇗Tail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Matican, Sigmund SidneyFlexible GunnerKIA
SGT. Philpott, Thomas Edward⇗Flexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 16 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
74⇗ 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37982⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Lead Squadron, high composite group. Turned back at 1246 hrs, deep in enemy territory, because #3 supercharger went out and aircraft could not maintain position in the formation.
Sortie Report⇗
77⇗ 19 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-2 Storage and Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
78⇗ 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3440⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
87⇗ 10 April 1944 Target: Evere Airfield (50°54'3"N 4°20'9"E)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
91⇗ 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97136⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
92⇗ 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37785⇗ Combat Mission Credit
B Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31495⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed with wounded crewmen aboard.
Sortie Report⇗
99⇗ 1 May 1944 Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97188⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany
Tail Gunner 42‑37982⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
103⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France
Tail Gunner 42‑31495⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Hit by continuously tracking flak about one minute before bombs away; aircraft hit by burst between tail and waist doors and went into very steep uncontrollable dive; was seen to hit the ground still burning; tail gunner seemed to be blown out with no chutes observed; crashed near Le Foyer, France. MACR 4561
Sortie Report⇗

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