Gregori, Raymond Patrick

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Gregori, Raymond Patrick ‡ ⇗
Rank	Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number	19128120 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, effective 1 February 1943. Transferred to the Detachment of Patients, 30th General Hospital, APO 514, per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #86 Dated 1 September 1943, effective 1 September 1943.
Duty	Tail Gunner
MOS	612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date	1 September 1943
Results	Wounded In Action
Decorations	Awarded the Silver Star for 'gallantry in action' on a mission over Germany on 12 August 1943. Awarded the Purple Heart medal for wounds received on 12 August 1943 per General Orders #89, Headquarters 1st Bomb Wing dated 17 August 1943.
Citation For Higher Decoration	SILVER STAR. RAYMOND P. GREGORI, 19128120, Staff Sergeant, Army Air Forces, Unites States Army. For gallantry in action, while serving as tail gunner of a B-17 airplane on a bombing mission over Germany, 12 August 1943. Fifteen minutes prior to reaching the target, Sergeant Gregori was severely wounded by an exploding 20 MM shell burst in the tail compartment of the plane. With complete disregard for his painful wounds, Sergeant Gregori remained at his station fighting off determined enemy attacks until his guns were put out of action. Not once did he indiicate that he had been wounded, until the attacks were over, when another member of the crew discovered his condition. The courage, skill and devotion to duty displayed by Sergeant Gregori serve as an inspiration to his fellow fliers and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Home address: Los Angeles, California. Citation Source: 'As Briefed...'
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 13 March 1923 Appointed Staff Sergeant per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 14 March 1943. Ordered to attend Gunnery School at Snettisham, Norfolk, for approximately 10 days beginning on or about 30 May 1943, on SO #21 dated 30 May 1943. Students are required to bring .50 cal. Ammunition, gas mask, steel helmet, mess equipment, blankets, clothing for ten days, and draw 'PX rations' in advance. Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #73 dated 17 August 1943.
Photos of this Veteran signing the Wing Panel	Gregori Signing⇗
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384^th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
2nd Lt. Hausenfluck, Jesse Dee, Jr⇗	Pilot	KIA
2nd Lt. MacKenzie, Donald B⇗	Co-pilot	KIA
2nd Lt. Everson, Charles W⇗	Navigator	POW
2nd Lt. Kennedy, Robert J⇗	Bombardier	POW
SGT. Bucheri, Sebastian (NMI)⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	POW
PVT. Kilcourse, John Thomas⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	POW
S/SGT. Taylor, Everett Andrew⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	TR
SGT. Traylor, James Audin⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	POW
SGT. Gregori, Raymond Patrick	Tail Gunner	WIA
S/SGT. Kelley, John R⇗	Flexible Gunner	POW

Crew History

The Hausenfluck Crew joined the 544th BS at Wendover on 1 February 1943. Identified as "Crew #3" on the assignment order, they became the first "Crew #43" in the squadron.

Before moving to England, Taylor was transferred to the 354th B HQ AAB Squadron at Sioux City, Iowa. Taylor was replaced on the crew by S/Sgt John C Blauer, who joined the squadron on 19 April 1943 at Sioux City, Iowa.

The crew flew to England and flew most of their missions together, with minimal substitutions, until they were shot down on 17 August 1943, the "First Schweinfurt" mission. Pilot Hausenfluck and copilot Mackenzie were KIA, and the remainder of the crew became POWs for the rest of the war.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 7 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
2⇗	25 June 1943	Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑30139⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Returned to base due to weather conditions; pilot was unable to maintain contact with the formation. Sortie Report⇗
3⇗	26 June 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Tail Gunner	42‑30142⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off High Squadron Deputy. Turned back with number 1 engine running very rough, with insufficient supercharger boost. Sortie Report⇗
4⇗	28 June 1943	Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France	Tail Gunner	42‑29956⇗	Combat Mission Credit High Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report⇗
5⇗	29 June 1943	Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Waist (Flexible) Gunner	42‑29956⇗	Combat Mission Credit Lead Squadron #2 (customary position for Deputy, but not so designated on formation chart). Sortie Report⇗
6⇗	4 July 1943	Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France	Tail Gunner	42‑29956⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
8⇗	14 July 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Tail Gunner	42‑29956⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back at Splasher 10 at 0711 hrs when #3 prop governor broke and prop ran away. Sortie Report⇗
9⇗	24 July 1943	Target: Aluminum & Magnesium Plants Type: Industry Location: Herøya, Norway	Tail Gunner	42‑29956⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
12⇗	29 July 1943	Target: Naval Base Type: Military Location: Kiel, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑29956⇗	Combat Mission Credit High Squadron deputy. Sortie Report⇗
13⇗	30 July 1943	Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑29956⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
14⇗	12 August 1943	Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Tail Gunner	42‑30142⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗

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