Welsbacher, Robert Henry

Individual Personnel Data
Name Welsbacher, Robert Henry, "Bob"
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-692102
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #37 dated 24 February 1944, effective 24 February 1944.
  • Transferred to the 12th RCD (Special Orders #178, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division), per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 3 July 1944, effective 3 July 1944.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 3 July 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 7 January 1923
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty on or about 11 May 1944 to 8th AF Officers Rest Home, Standridge Earl, Hampshire (a Flak house) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #87 dated 10 May 1944.
  • Promoted to First Lieutenant effective 9 June 1944 per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 18 June 1944.
  • Completed Combat Tour of Duty and left Grafton Underwood on 3 July 1944 to return to the USA (squadron history, microfilm A0641-00230).
Photos of this Veteran signing the Wing PanelWelsbacher Signing⇗
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Kelly, John Thomas⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Roth, Verle Leroy⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Welsbacher, Robert Henry, "Bob"NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Dotherow, Ed (NMI)⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Trypuc, John Vincent, Jr⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Cruise, James Henry⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
PVT. Chouinard, Garnet (NMI)⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Wray, Forrest Donald⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Madera, Alfred (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerTBD
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 30 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
76⇗ 18 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
78⇗ 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Navigator 42‑37788⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Became separated from group prior to RECALL. Continued on to primary target area and released bombs in coordination with another wing. Bombing location given as 50°08',8°40', which was within the city of Frankfurt am Main.
Sortie Report⇗
82⇗ 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France 		Navigator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Navigator 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
94 Group.
Sortie Report⇗
84⇗ 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France 		Navigator 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
85⇗ 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97231⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97201⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 0915; could not locate formation due to bad weather.
Sortie Report⇗
87⇗ 10 April 1944 Target: Evere Airfield (50°54'3"N 4°20'9"E)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Navigator 42‑97201⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97201⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97237⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
91⇗ 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany 		Navigator 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
92⇗ 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Navigator 42‑97204⇗ Combat Mission Credit
A Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97372⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Navigator 42‑38013⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
97⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Navigator 42‑97201⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy. Assumed lead after group lead aborted.
Sortie Report⇗
99⇗ 1 May 1944 Target: Launch Site in Foret Nationale de Tournehem
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Foret Nationale de Tournehem, France 		Navigator 42‑97237⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy. Bomb release mechanism malfunctioned; bombs jettisoned 16 minutes after target.
Sortie Report⇗
103⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Navigator 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
111⇗ 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France 		Navigator 42‑102402⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group A Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
113⇗ 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Navigator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
114⇗ 24 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
115⇗ 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France 		Navigator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
116⇗ 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102449⇗ Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, N, RO, Eng) not identified.
Sortie Report⇗
117⇗ 28 May 1944 Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Deputy. Assumed lead after equipment failures on the lead aircraft.
Sortie Report⇗
120⇗ 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97263⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead Group, original Wing Deputy. Turned back at 0948 hrs because #2 and #3 engines failed.
Sortie Report⇗
124⇗ 3 June 1944 Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France 		Navigator 42‑97072⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Navigator 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
K Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Navigator 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing, Lead Group, Wing Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
-- 11 June 1944 None
Non-combat sortie 		Navigator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
1st Lt. Kelly and his crew flew as Group Lead of the 306th BG in the 40th Combat Bombardment Wing 'B' on this date.
Sortie Report⇗
133⇗ 12 June 1944 Target: Railroad Bridge 48°29'N,2°0'W
Type: Transportation
Location: La Vicomté-sur-Rance, France 		Navigator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead. Col. William L Travis aboard as Combat Wing Air Commander.
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Navigator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group Lead. Landed away at Polebrook, AAF Station 110, on return, due to bad weather.
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Navigator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Navigator 42‑3441⇗ Weather aircraft; remainder of crew (CP, RO, Eng) not identified
Sortie Report⇗
140⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Navigator 42‑97824⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
142⇗ 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗

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