Wolf, Richard Vance

Individual Personnel Data
Name Wolf, Richard Vance
⇗
Rank Flight Officer / First Lieutenant
Serial Number T-251
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #14 dated 15 January 1943, effective 15 January 1943.
Duty Co-pilot / Pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 7 February 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 20 June 1921
  • Appointed 2nd Lt. between 17 May and 6 June 1943 and assigned serial numbar O-519846.
  • Placed on Temporary Duty for seven days to the American Red Cross Club, Southport (a flak house) on or about 27 August 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #81 dated 25 August 1943.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
546th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Algar, Philip Morris⇗PilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Wolf, Richard VanceCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Celentano, Frank A⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. McClanahan, James Clifton⇗BombardierCT
SGT. Gerow, Francis (NMI)⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
SGT. Laviolette, Roland Bernard⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
PVT. McKay, Kenneth Mitchel, Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Schimenek, John Francis⇗Tail GunnerCT
S/SGT. Majewski, Casmer Robert⇗Flexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Miller, Loring Corwin⇗Flexible GunnerWIA

Crew History

The Algar Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 546th BS of the 384th BG - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 61" (crew #1 of the 546th) - on 31 December 1942 at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with Wolf and Schimenick joining in January 1943. They flew to Wendover a few days after the ground echelon entrained for the transfer.
It would appear this crew remained intact during stateside training, and went into combat together, flying all missions until late July without changes. Thereafter, mission demands led to frequent substitutions, although many crew members continued flying together until the ends of their tours.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗ 22 June 1943 Target: General Motors Truck Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Antwerp, Belgium 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
2⇗ 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back after windshield motor burned out and cockpit filled with smoke, causing the pilot to lose contact with the formation.
Sortie Report⇗
3⇗ 26 June 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
4⇗ 28 June 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
6⇗ 4 July 1943 Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Le Mans, France 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
7⇗ 10 July 1943 Target: Drucat Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Abbeville, France 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
8⇗ 14 July 1943 Target: Villacoublay Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Paris, France 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
10⇗ 25 July 1943 Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard
Type: Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
11⇗ 28 July 1943 Target: Aircraft Engine Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel, Germany 		Observer 42‑3259⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
14⇗ 12 August 1943 Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron #2 position.
Sortie Report⇗
15⇗ 15 August 1943 Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France 		Co-pilot 42‑3440⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
17⇗ 17 August 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑3455⇗ Combat Mission Credit
S/Sgt. Loring Miller, right waist gunner, awarded Silver Star (As Briefed, p. 198).
Sortie Report⇗
21⇗ 6 September 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Stuttgart, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at West Malling, Kent, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
22⇗ 7 September 1943 Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium 		Co-pilot 42‑3440⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Low sqaudron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
23⇗ 9 September 1943 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Lille-Vendeville, France 		Co-pilot 42‑29935⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
25⇗ 23 September 1943 Target: Submarine Repair Ship
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Nantes, France 		Tail Gunner 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Lead. Landed away at RAF Warmwell, Dorset, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
32⇗ 14 October 1943 Target: Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Only plane to return to Grafton Underwood.
Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29935⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑29935⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37776⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; engines #1 and #3 running rough, as well as radio, interphone, and heated suits problems.
Sortie Report⇗
40⇗ 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France 		Pilot 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
41⇗ 11 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Unable to locate the 384th formation, joined the 306th BG (40th Combat Wing).
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Pilot 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Composite group.
Sortie Report⇗
48⇗ 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France 		Pilot 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Molesworth; bombs jettisoned.
Sortie Report⇗
51⇗ 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Pilot 42‑5444⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 1025 hrs due to runaway supercharger on #3 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑37776⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Pilot 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Pilot 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗

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