Menchaca, Jose Ricardo

Individual Personnel Data
Name Menchaca, Jose Ricardo
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 38055915
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
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 25 September 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 26 December 1922
  • 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.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Hale, Charles Eugene⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Grant, Walter Edward⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Swisher, Glenn Everett⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Morris, Arthur Joseph⇗BombardierTBD
S/SGT. Richardson, William Earl⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Burlingame, James Wyatt⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Greene, Henry Tyler, Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Asher, John Calvin⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Baird, James Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerTR
SGT. Menchaca, Jose RicardoFlexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 32 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⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
97⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97201⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Flying spare; turned back at 0932; could not find formation.
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 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37792⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑3441.
Sortie Report⇗
103⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102402⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
105⇗ 11 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken and Ehrang, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Ground Spare aircraft; replaced 42‑97072.
Sortie Report⇗
106⇗ 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97367⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1131 hrs with #4 prop running away.
Sortie Report⇗
107⇗ 13 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Components Factory.
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Poznań, Poland 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97237⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
109⇗ 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
111⇗ 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97201⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group A.
Sortie Report⇗
113⇗ 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97072⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group
Sortie Report⇗
114⇗ 24 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑107057⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group. Ground Spare aircraft. Replaced 42‑97447.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑97237⇗ Combat Mission Credit
K Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
130⇗ 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France 		Waist (Flexible) 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 		Waist (Flexible) 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 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
148⇗ 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6128⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group, 41st A wing. Only 547th BS plane to land at Grafton Underwood after the mission.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑107064⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
151⇗ 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
153⇗ 7 July 1944 Target: Me-109 Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy, 41st A wing. Deputy Grp Leader
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⇗
155⇗ 11 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
156⇗ 12 July 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low group deputy. Turned back due to failure of generators in engines 1, 3, & 4.
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
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⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97150⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
183⇗ 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37990⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
185⇗ 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8011⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97948⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
195⇗ 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands 		Tail Gunner 42‑32106⇗ Combat Mission Credit
F Squadron deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
197⇗ 21 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mainz, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High (composite) group deputy. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
198⇗ 25 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Tail Gunner 43‑37843⇗ Combat Mission Credit
C wing, low group. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.