Polito, Michael John

Individual Personnel Data
Name Polito, Michael John   ‡
⇗
Rank Corporal / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 32782979   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #53 dated 20 July 1943, effective 20 July 1943.
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 23 September 1944 (Assigned from Headquarters United Kingdom Base APO 413), effective 19 September 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Togglier
Last Duty Date 4 March 1944
Results Evaded Capture
DecorationsAwarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 4 March 1944 per General Orders #70, Headquarters, U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe dated 29 September 1944.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 30 January 1923
  • Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #54 dated 21 July 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (R&R) on or about 28 September 1943 to Moulsford Manor near Chelsey (a flak house), Berkshire per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #105 dated 27 September 1943.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #107 dated 1 October 1943.
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #191 dated 28 September 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 2740⇓ (39.737 MB)
Escape & Evasion Report # 2113⇓ (2.972 MB)
Michael John Polito⇓ (filesize unknown)



Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 14 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead. Ground Spare Aircraft. Replaced 42‑29768.
Sortie Report⇗
26⇗ 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3218⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron lead. Turned back, unable to keep up with formation due to lack of power.
Sortie Report⇗
30⇗ 9 October 1943 Target: Aircraft Factories
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3218⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30033⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back. Landed away at Metfield.
Sortie Report⇗
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30033⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Turned back because of oxygen failure and #3 engine not operating properly; bombed a target of opportunity with unobserved results.
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29809⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1031 hrs due to defective bomb racks; bombs were released when bombardier released bomb bay tanks over North Sea.
Sortie Report⇗
61⇗ 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29809⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31235⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑29828. Flying spare; joined formation; aborted before reaching enemy coast because oil temperature on #2 engine was too high, and #2 and #4 engines had detonation (pinging).
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97521⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group. Turned back with #1 engine out.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead, 41st B Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29632⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
66⇗ 24 February 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31926⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, High Squadron, Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
71⇗ 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Togglier 42‑32007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
In formation at bomb release at 1157 hrs; damaged by flak, crashed 3 km north of Ransart, Belgium. MACR 2740
Sortie Report⇗

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