Grafton Underwood, England (Station 106) 1943-1945
Combat History of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in WWII
384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
"Keep The Show On The Road"
| Name | Wells, Richard Llewellyn ‡ |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Serial Number | 37296069 ‡ |
| Unit Assignments | Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 special Orders #136 dated 5 November 1943, effective 5 November 1943. |
| Duty | Flexible Gunner |
| MOS | 757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF |
| Last Duty Date | 11 February 1944 |
| Results | Evaded Capture |
| Decorations | Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 11 February 1944 per General Orders #64, Headquarters U.S. Strategic Air Forces in Europe dated 9 September 1944. |
| Additional Information |
|
| Related Documents | Missing Air Crew Report # 2530⇓ (16.260 MB) Escape & Evasion Report # 1399⇓ (3.434 MB) |
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lt. Moore, Clifford Orville⇗ | Pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Stewart, Gilman Carter⇗ | Co-pilot | CT |
| 2nd Lt. Collins, Bernard John⇗ | Navigator | CT |
| 2nd Lt. Kenney, Paul E (IO)⇗ | Bombardier | POW |
| PVT. Puckett, Noah Lee⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Traynor, James Patrick⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | POW |
| SGT. Brown, Jack Maurice⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | POW |
| SGT. Humble, Joe Thomas⇗ | Tail Gunner | EV |
| SGT. Lee, Donald Robert⇗ | Flexible Gunner | KIA |
| SGT. Wells, Richard Llewellyn | Flexible Gunner | EV |
| Number | Date | Target | Position | Aircraft | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40⇗ | 5 December 1943 |
Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31045⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 41⇗ | 11 December 1943 |
Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31073⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑29927. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 43⇗ | 16 December 1943 |
Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31222⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 46⇗ | 24 December 1943 |
Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site) Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons) Location: Croisette, France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑3051⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Composite group. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 51⇗ | 7 January 1944 |
Target: Powerhouse Type: Industry Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31211⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off Became separated from formation in dense clouds after group assembly; failed to make wing rendezvous. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 52⇗ | 11 January 1944 |
Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Halberstadt, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31045⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 58⇗ | 4 February 1944 |
Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑31375⇗ |
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 |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑40005⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 60⇗ | 6 February 1944 |
Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Nancy, France |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑40005⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 62⇗ | 11 February 1944 |
Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry) Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
Waist (Flexible) Gunner | 42‑40005⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return Last seen at 1240 hrs 20 mi west of Frankfurt, losing altitude rapidly but under control; aircraft made a right turn toward another formation, continued losing altitude, dropping into clouds; Damaged by enemy aircraft; crashed near Valenciennes, France (9 km SE, per German report). MACR 2530 Sortie Report⇗ |