Ward, Donald Leroy

Individual Personnel Data
Name Ward, Donald Leroy
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-703541
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #107 dated 8 June 1944, effective 8 June 1944.
  • Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group Headquarters Detachment, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #242, effective 10 December 1944.
  • Transferred to the Casual Pool, 70th Replacement Depot, AAF Station 594, per Headquarters Detachment, 384th Bomb Group Morning Report dated 19 December 1944, effective 14 December 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 14 December 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 5 July 1918
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Big Spring AAF, Big Spring, Texas, Class #43-18, 24 December 1943.
  • Appointed First Lieutenant per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 19 August 1944.
  • Granted a seven (7) day operational leave of absence effective 22 September 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #187 dated 21 September 1944.
  • Detailed as Group Bombardier (Prim) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #242 dated 10 December 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Allred, Frank Lavon⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Reed, William Marcus⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. O'Sullivan, Timothy James⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Ward, Donald LeroyBombardierCT
S/SGT. Drury, Eldon Boyd⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Noble, Raymon Lewis⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Leschak, Nickolas, Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Mitchell, Robert McKinley, Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Hunt, Virgil Dowell⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Redcay, Carl Harry⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 29 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
136⇗ 15 June 1944 Target: Railroad Viaduct
Type: Transportation
Location: La Possonnièrre, France 		Bombardier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Bombardier 42‑31435⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
138⇗ 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Bombardier 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
146⇗ 25 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge & Embankment
Type: Transportation
Location: Sens, France 		Bombardier 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, lead group, 41st A wing.
Sortie Report⇗
159⇗ 17 July 1944 Target: Beautor Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Beautor, France 		Bombardier 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107224⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Deputy, Hot Camera Ship. Led the Low Group after Lead ship was damaged and couldn't keep up.
Sortie Report⇗
164⇗ 24 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: La Chapelle en Juger & Hébécrevon, France 		Bombardier 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
165⇗ 25 July 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Montreuil-sur-Lozon, Le Châtel,
& La Chapelle en Juger, France 		Bombardier 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group Deputy and Hot Camera Ship.
Sortie Report⇗
169⇗ 1 August 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Chartres, France 		Bombardier 43‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group. Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑37822, which was found to have a bad engine after takeoff. Returned to base and took off late, intercepting the formation at the English coast.
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Bombardier 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
179⇗ 13 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Road Network
Type: Transportation
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (area), France 		Bombardier 42‑102933⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
183⇗ 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
189⇗ 8 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
194⇗ 13 September 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
197⇗ 21 September 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mainz, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97592⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
211⇗ 15 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
213⇗ 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. PFF ship. Took over on bomb run after lead Gee-h equipment failed, but too late to bomb primary. Led Squadron to attack secondary by PFF.
Sortie Report⇗
214⇗ 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, Group Deputy. Gee-H ship. Took over at IP and led Squadron on bomb run.
Sortie Report⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
218⇗ 2 November 1944 Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. Gee-H ship. Gee-H equipment failed before IP. Attempted to follow low Squadron, but they turned off the bomb run. Then tried to catch lead Squadron, but were unable. Then led Squadron to a visual attack on the briefed last resort target.
Sortie Report⇗
219⇗ 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Gee-H ship; lead Squadron deputy. Took lead for bomb run and bombing with Gee-H.
Sortie Report⇗
224⇗ 10 November 1944 Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Squadron, Squadron Lead. PFF ship. Marion Chase, Engineer: 'Feathered #3 after flak hit oil cooler and we lost our oil.'
Sortie Report⇗
227⇗ 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 43‑38016⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Gee-H ship; lead Squadron deputy, 41st Bomb Wing C group. The mission commander's narrative states: 'A/C 8016 (Pilot Gilbert) returned early due to engine failure. Bombs were jettisoned.' According to Marion Chase, Engineer: 'Five minutes before target, had a runaway prop and finally feathered it due to vibration. At 29,000 ft. we could not climb and lost our formation. Came back alone.'
Sortie Report⇗
228⇗ 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, A group.
Sortie Report⇗
233⇗ 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑8221⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 42‑97592. Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
236⇗ 6 December 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.