Witherspoon, Elmer Stanley

Individual Personnel Data
Name Witherspoon, Elmer Stanley
⇗
Rank Sergeant / Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 15097548
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #88 dated 11 May 1944, effective 11 May 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Ball Turret Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 5 September 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 19 April 1920
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #115 dated 18 June 1944.
  • Transferred in grade to the Casual Pool, 8th AFRD, AAF Station 594 on 5 September 1944 per Squadron Morning Report.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Vogt, Jean Deveau, "Gene"⇗Co-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. Sulser, James David, Jr⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Eisenach, Ralph Eugene⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. McClanahan, John Howard, Jr⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
SGT. Holt, Alfred Irwin⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerEV
SGT. Larocca, Frank (NMI)⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Harris, Thomas James⇗Tail GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Marshall, Sylvester Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Witherspoon, Elmer StanleyFlexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 29 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
113⇗ 23 May 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Togglier 42‑37982⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
41A Group Flying Spare.
Sortie Report⇗
114⇗ 24 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Togglier 42‑97188⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
130⇗ 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France 		Togglier 42‑97188⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Togglier 42‑97188⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
132⇗ 10 June 1944 Target: Chateau Bougon Airfield (41A) & Vannes Airfield (41B)
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nantes & Vannes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97320⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
135⇗ 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France 		Togglier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, Low Group.
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Togglier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group. Jettisoned bombs after target.
Sortie Report⇗
138⇗ 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Togglier 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
Sortie Report⇗
140⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Togglier 42‑31435⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
141⇗ 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany 		Togglier 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
143⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: V-2 Storage & Launch Site
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Wizernes, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
144⇗ 22 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lille (Fives district), France 		Togglier 42‑37982⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
145⇗ 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany 		Togglier 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
148⇗ 28 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Juvincourt (Juvincourt-et-Damary), France 		Togglier 43‑37703⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare, high group, 41st B wing; joined formation. Landed away at Boxted, AAF Station 150, on return due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
150⇗ 4 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
151⇗ 6 July 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Coubronne, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑98000⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Lead group. Turned back due to low oxygen pressure.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Ball Turret 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 		Ball Turret 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy and hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
168⇗ 31 July 1944 Target: Aero Engine Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Munich / München, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
171⇗ 4 August 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑107121⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
173⇗ 5 August 1944 Target: Luftwaffe Controlling Station
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Langenhagen, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑102959⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
174⇗ 7 August 1944 Target: Aircraft Fuel Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dugny (Paris), France 		Ball Turret 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
175⇗ 8 August 1944 Target: Tactical - Enemy Strong Points
Type: Military
Location: Bretteville-sur-Laize, France 		Ball Turret 44‑6109⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
176⇗ 9 August 1944 Target: Erding Airdrome & Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Erding, Germany 		Ball Turret 42‑97510⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
177⇗ 11 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Coastal Artillery Emplacements
Type: Military
Location: Brest, France 		Ball Turret 42‑98000⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High section lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
178⇗ 12 August 1944 Target: "Landing Ground"
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: La Perthe, France 		Ball Turret 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
182⇗ 18 August 1944 Target: Tactical: Bridge
Type: Transportation
Location: Vise, Belgium 		Ball Turret 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
183⇗ 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Ball Turret 44‑6141⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Turned back due to flak damage prior to primary and bombed unknown target of opportunity (TOO). Landed away at Rackheath, AAF Station 145, with two engines out.
Sortie Report⇗

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