Springsted, Donald George

Individual Personnel Data
Name Springsted, Donald George   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-697175   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #140 dated 17 July 1944, effective 17 July 1944.
Duty Co-pilot / Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 25 February 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Lt Springsted was wounded when flak exploded near engine #3. He crash-landed the aircraft in allied territory, at Tongres, Belgium, with the dead co-pilot, Lt Barnes, and the Engineer, T/Sgt Murphy, aboard.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (TD) to Southport, AAF Station 524 (a Flak House) on 14 October 1944 to carry out the instructions of the Commanding General per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #203 dated 14 October 1944.
  • Granted a seven day operational leave of absence effective 16 December 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #246 dated 15 December 1944.
  • Ordered on Temporary Duty to 116th General Hospital, APO 514 on 19 December 1944 for an indefinite period. Upon completion of Temporary Duty, Officer will return to this station per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #250 dated 19 December 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 10448⇓ (33.387 MB)
Accident Report # 44-09-27-510⇓ (2.530 MB)
Accident Report # 45-02-01-539⇓ (3.203 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. McKinney, Dale Morris⇗PilotTR
2nd Lt. Springsted, Donald GeorgeCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Jacobs, Edward Gregory⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Latz, David John⇗BombardierTR
S/SGT. Meyer, Melvin Joseph⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Murphy, William C⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Stephenson, Hilton Hubert⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
CPL. Wantuch, Casimer Joseph⇗Tail GunnerWIA
SGT. Macuch, Albert Richard⇗Flexible GunnerWIA
SGT. Weiss, Joseph Richard⇗Flexible GunnerTR
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 33 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
167⇗ 29 July 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑97072⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France 		Co-pilot 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
170⇗ 3 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury, Flers, Fiefs, France 		Co-pilot 43‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
J Group.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
175⇗ 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Co-pilot 44‑6135⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Co-pilot 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Co-pilot 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
179⇗ 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France 		Co-pilot 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group.
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Co-pilot 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
184⇗ 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
186⇗ 30 August 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Crepieul, France 		Co-pilot 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
187⇗ 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38213⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
191⇗ 10 September 1944 Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
195⇗ 17 September 1944 Target: Tank and Gun Concentrations, Tactical
Type: Military
Location: Eindhoven & 's‑Hertogenbosch (den Bosch), The Netherlands 		Co-pilot 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
B Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
196⇗ 19 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Co-pilot 43‑38062⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
200⇗ 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Pilot 44‑6141⇗ Taxi accident prior to takeoff, crew not injured; replaced by Ground Spare Aircraft 43‑37971.
Sortie Report⇗
200⇗ 27 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (PFF Aiming Points)
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Pilot 43‑37971⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Replaced 44‑6141, which was damaged in a taxi accident prior to takeoff.
Sortie Report⇗
202⇗ 30 September 1944 Target: Handorf Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Münster, Germany 		Pilot 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
203⇗ 2 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Pilot 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Dropped bombs early, reason unknown.
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
205⇗ 5 October 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
206⇗ 6 October 1944 Target: M/T Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Stettin / Szczecin, Poland 		Pilot 44‑6512⇗ Combat Mission Credit
D group.
Sortie Report⇗
207⇗ 7 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Pilot 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
208⇗ 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
209⇗ 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Pilot 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Third Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
217⇗ 1 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
219⇗ 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Pilot 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
222⇗ 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Pilot 44‑6512⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Low Squadron
Sortie Report⇗
226⇗ 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany 		Pilot 44‑6512⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Hot camera ship. Aircraft received a direct flak burst in #3 engine over target, setting it afire at 1205 hrs. Six chutes were observed, but one appeared to be on fire. The aircraft crash-landed at Tongres, Belgium, with injured pilot and tail-gunner, and dead co-pilot. MACR 10448
Sortie Report⇗
257⇗ 20 January 1945 Target: Rail and Road Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Pilot 43‑38850⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Ridgewell Airfield, AAF Station 167.
Sortie Report⇗
261⇗ 28 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Pilot 43‑39053⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
262⇗ 29 January 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Siegen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
263⇗ 1 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Pilot 43‑38927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron hot camera ship. Crashed on return from mission while attempting to land at Molesworth Airfield, AAF Station 107, due to low fuel. Aircraft destroyed, no injuries to crew.
Sortie Report⇗

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