Saunders, Paul Ralph

Individual Personnel Data
Name Saunders, Paul Ralph   ‡
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 17128063   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #46 dated 10 July 1943, effective 10 July 1943.
Duty Flexible Gunner
Last Duty Date 1 December 1943
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 29 March 1916
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #76 dated 20 August 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (R&R) The American Red Cross Club, Southport on or about 15 October 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #95 dated 13 September 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 1335⇓ (5.166 MB)



Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 15 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Tail Gunner 42‑5848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because they couldn't keep up with formation; detonation suspected.
Sortie Report⇗
12⇗ 29 July 1943 Target: Naval Base
Type: Military
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑3104 which was flown by the Sierens Crew.
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30043⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back over Yarmouth; could not reach altitude or keep up with formation; lower turret was out and top turret Vickers unit was 'vaporizing' (?).
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Pilot and co-pilot wounded in legs by shrapnel.
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Togglier 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
20⇗ 3 September 1943 Target: Air Park and Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29699⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5849⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5849⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back due to #2 engine failure.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
26⇗ 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Snetterton Heath Airfield, AAF Station 138, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑29814⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5747⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Molesworth due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑5852⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Crew bailed out over England; aircraft crashed near Chetwode, UK on return.
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3259⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron lead; Ground Spare Aircraft (545th BS), replaced 42‑3441; turned back due to pilot illness.
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑30033⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Group lead; mechanical problems; turned back at 11:30am.
Sortie Report⇗

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