Chapin, Robert Charles

Individual Personnel Data
Name Chapin, Robert Charles
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / Major
Serial Number O-685535
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #126 dated 23 October 1943, effective 23 October 1943.
  • Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group Headquarters Detachment, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #193, effective 30 September 1944.
  • Transferred to the Casual Pool, 70th RD, Station 594, per Headquarters Detachment,384th Bomb Group Morning Report (PAR 1, SO 161, HQ, 1AD) dated 14 June 1945, effective 14 June 1945.
Duty Navigator
MOS1034 - Navigator
Last Duty Date 14 June 1945
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Ordered to travel to 302nd Dispensary, AAF Station 101, Pinetree, for study by Central Medical Board on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #159 dated 3 December 1943.
  • 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.
  • Detailed Group Navigator (Primary) effective 30 September 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #193 dated 30 September 1944.
  • Appointed to a board of officers, purpose of the board - for the conducting of preliminary investigation for the termination of appointment of flight officers effective 6 January 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders # 5 dated 6 January 1945.
  • Ordered to London on 16 January 1945 for approximately two days Temporary Duty, purpose Public Relations Office (PRO) Radio Activities per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #12 dated 14 January 1945.
Related Documents Accident Report # 44-11-16-534⇓ (1.778 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Horton, Lloyd (NMI), Jr⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Miller, James Gilmore, II⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Chapin, Robert CharlesNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Rymer, Albert Ray⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Braman, William Stuart⇗Radio Operator / GunnerTR
S/SGT. Wallace, Virgil Leonard⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Schekel, Lorin Edwin⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Ukrain, Sidney Charles⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Conn, Robert John⇗Flexible GunnerTR
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 39 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑29636⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑37781⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at 'Coltishall' (or 'Cottishall'). Intelligence Officer report, item 6, includes the statement: 'A/C 781, Lt. TAYLOR, Pilot has reported one killed and three wounded men aboard at landing.' The wounded individuals are not identified.
Sortie Report⇗
40⇗ 5 December 1943 Target: Fighter Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France 		Navigator 42‑31222⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron deputy; aborted due to a "broken piston head in #2 engine."
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Returned Early
Lead group. Aborted with loss of oil pressure in #2 engine. Attacked Wittmund, Germany, as a Target Of Opportunity (TOO). Geographic location given is closer to Neßmersiel than Wittmund.
Sortie Report⇗
44⇗ 20 December 1943 Target: Port Area/Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑31045⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
46⇗ 24 December 1943 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Croisette, France 		Navigator 42‑31222⇗ 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 		Navigator 42‑29723⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
51⇗ 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑31222⇗ 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 		Navigator 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Navigator 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Navigator 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
57⇗ 3 February 1944 Target: Submarines (under construction)
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Wilhelmshaven, Germany 		Navigator 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
58⇗ 4 February 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Navigator 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group deputy, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Navigator 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, low group.
Sortie Report⇗
63⇗ 20 February 1944 Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Leipzig & Bernburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑37848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Navigator 42‑37848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
68⇗ 28 February 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Navigator 42‑31222⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
79⇗ 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, composite high group.
Sortie Report⇗
81⇗ 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Navigator 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
84⇗ 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France 		Navigator 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97139. Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group lead.
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
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 42‑31211⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
104⇗ 9 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Thionville, France 		Navigator 42‑31364⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead.
Sortie Report⇗
112⇗ 22 May 1944 Target: Warehouse District in the Dock Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97533⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Lead. PFF aircraft and remainder of unidentified crew members supplied by 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
116⇗ 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Navigator 42‑97574⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead. PFF ship provided by the 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
119⇗ 29 May 1944 Target: Focke-Wulf Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Krzesiny District, Poznań, Poland 		Navigator 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
135⇗ 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France 		Navigator 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Wing, Lead Group, Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
204⇗ 3 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany 		Navigator 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
208⇗ 9 October 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group and wing lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
216⇗ 30 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
222⇗ 8 November 1944 Target: Leuna Synthetic Oil Plant (visual aim point)
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8008⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
-- 16 November 1944 None
Non-combat sortie 		Navigator 43‑38588⇗ During an administrative flight to Villacoublay Airfield, near Paris, France, weather closed in forcing a diversion to A-46 (Toussous le Noble). Through a misunderstanding, pilot landed on a runway that was closed to B-17 traffic. The right main gear sank into a filled bomb crater at the end of the landing roll, damaging portions of the right wing, engines, and propellors. There were no injuries to personnel.
Sortie Report⇗
234⇗ 2 December 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Oberlahnstein, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8007⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Division lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
241⇗ 19 December 1944 Target: Railway Junction
Type: Transportation
Location: Glaadt, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8221⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship. Landed away at RAF Fairwood Common near Swansea, Wales.
Sortie Report⇗
248⇗ 1 January 1945 Target: Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Derben, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8216⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship. Prevented from attacking the primary target by weather, led an attack on the secondary PFF target, but did not attack when PFF equipment failed. After several additional failed attempts to attack the secondary and last resort targets, finally attacked a target of opportunity (TOO).
Sortie Report⇗
250⇗ 3 January 1945 Target: Enemy Strong Point & Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: St Vith, Belgium 		Navigator 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
268⇗ 19 February 1945 Target: Coking Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8541⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
285⇗ 10 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Schwerte, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing lead; PFF and Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
293⇗ 20 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Werft Submarine Shipyard
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Navigator 42‑98027⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group lead. PFF ship.
Sortie Report⇗
300⇗ 30 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Schiff- u. Maschinenbau A.G. (DESCHIMAG)
Submarine and Warship Yard
Machine Shop
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Navigator 42‑102430⇗ Combat Mission Credit
This aircraft replaced 42‑98027. 'Cowboy-Scouter' mission.
Sortie Report⇗
301⇗ 31 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Navigator 44‑8649⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
310⇗ 14 April 1945 Target: Gun Battery
Type: Military
Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France 		Navigator 44‑8401⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Col. Milton, Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗

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