Thurman, Fillman Clifton

Individual Personnel Data
Name Thurman, Fillman Clifton   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 18077086   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, effective 1 February 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - transferred to 12th RCD, AAF Station 591, effective 23 March 1944.
Duty Ball Turret Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 23 March 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 12 January 1924
  • Ordered to attend Gunnery School at Snettisham, Norfolk, for approximately 10 days beginning on or about 30 May 1943, on SO #21 dated 30 May 1943. Students are required to bring .50 cal. Ammunition, gas mask, steel helmet, mess equipment, blankets, clothing for ten days, and draw 'PX rations' in advance.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty (R&R) on or about 28 September 1943 to Moulsford Manor near Chelsey, Berkshire per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #105 dated 27 September 1943.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Armstrong, Lloyd Rowland⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Van der Haeghen, Joseph Albert⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Wilson, Eugene Theodore⇗NavigatorMIA
2nd Lt. Kinney, William Brownie⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Carroll, George Henry⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Estes, Lloyd Stack⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerWIA
S/SGT. Thurman, Fillman CliftonBall Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Grimes, Robert Albert⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Mason, Jack Leslie (#2)⇗Flexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Renfro, Alvin Everette⇗Flexible GunnerCT

Crew History

The Armstrong Crew joined the 545th BS at Wendover on 1 February 1943. Identified as "Crew #5" on the assignment order, they became the first "Crew #53" in the squadron. They trained at Wendover, Sioux City, and Kearney, and then flew to England together.

They flew numerous missions together, with Wilson and Grimes not flying the first few missions, for unknown reasons. In September, Van der Haeghen was rated First Pilot and given his own crew; Mason and Grimes went with him, and were replaced by S/Sgt Michael Polito and S/Sgt Ralph Voorhees. Most of the members of this crew completed their combat tour, with only Wilson not surviving the war.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗ 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
3⇗ 26 June 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
5⇗ 29 June 1943 Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
7⇗ 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
9⇗ 24 July 1943 Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Herøya, Norway 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
10⇗ 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 0810 hrs because of supercharger failure on #3 & #4 engines.
Sortie Report⇗
16⇗ 16 August 1943 Target: Le Bourget Airport & Air Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
18⇗ 27 August 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Watten, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
19⇗ 31 August 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Romilly-sur-Seine, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back with #2, #3, and #4 engines very rough.
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Landed at Grafton Underwood.
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
24⇗ 16 September 1943 Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River)
Type: Transportation
Location: Nantes, France 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Ball Turret 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 		Ball Turret 42‑3218⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
29⇗ 8 October 1943 Target: Workshops
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 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 		Ball Turret 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Ball Turret 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 		Ball Turret 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 		Ball Turret 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⇗
37⇗ 26 November 1943 Target: City Center
Type: Non-Military
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑5444⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑37816⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31484⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead, 41st B Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
73⇗ 8 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑31048⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97477⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41st Combat Bombardment Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗

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