Trees, William Ernest

Individual Personnel Data
Name Trees, William Ernest   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-809453   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #146 dated 17 November 1943, effective 17 November 1943.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 28 February 1944
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 14 February 1921
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 2937⇓ (36.613 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Rinne, Austin Dean⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Bornhorst, Francis Joseph, Jr⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Trees, William ErnestNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Aegeter, John Lloyd⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Edwards, Thomas Joseph, Jr⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Jones, Leroy Charles⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Hickey, James Currie⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Regan, Charles Thomas, "Pete"⇗Tail GunnerKIA
SGT. Cooper, Robert Henry⇗Flexible GunnerEV
SGT. Page, William Marvin⇗Flexible GunnerPOW

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 12 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑3051⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Aborted with loss of oil pressure in #2 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
43⇗ 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany
Navigator 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Navigator 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Navigator 42‑31058⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group.
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 42‑31058⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany
Navigator 42‑40005⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Navigator 42‑31058⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 42‑31058⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
59⇗ 5 February 1944 Target: Bricy Aerodrome, Luftwaffe Training and Bomber Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Orleans, France
Navigator 42‑31222⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France
Navigator 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Navigator 42‑31346⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑31058⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41B Group. Turned back at 1023 hrs due to #2 cylinder head on #1 engine blew out, causing a fire, which resulted in feathering of engine.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany
Navigator 42‑29723⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back when #4 engine threw oil excessively and oil pressure dropped very rapidly.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany
Navigator 42‑31375⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group. Landed away at RAF Gosfield, Essex, on return.
Sortie Report⇗
67⇗ 25 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Ball Bearings Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Augsburg & Stuttgart, Germany
Navigator 42‑29927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, High Squadron, Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France
Navigator 42‑31058⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Went down in France during the first bomb run between the IP and target with one engine smoking badly and in flames; no flak or fighters encountered up to that point; ten chutes seen; one did not open; aircraft seen to hit ground; crashed near Envermeu, France. MACR 2937
Sortie Report⇗

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