Cochran, Thomas Tidwell

Individual Personnel Data
Name Cochran, Thomas Tidwell   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant
Serial Number 34307294   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #146 dated 17 November 1943, effective 17 November 1943.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS612 - Airplane Armorer / Gunner
Last Duty Date 8 May 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France: Plot F Row 20 Grave 26
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 1915
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 4561⇓ (4.362 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Foster, James Everett⇗PilotKIA
2nd Lt. Duffy, John H⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Vernon, Sheldon Ira⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Ferazzi, Gabriel Ernest⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Corbett, Thomas Walter⇗Radio Operator / GunnerKIA
S/SGT. Birch, Frank Austin⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Overcash, Jimmy Lee, Jr⇗Ball Turret GunnerKIA
SGT. Matthijetz, Carl Walter⇗Tail GunnerCT
SGT. Corfield, Robert Milton⇗Flexible GunnerCT
S/SGT. Cochran, Thomas TidwellFlexible GunnerKIA
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 27 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31274⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
Sortie Report⇗
50⇗ 5 January 1944 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39784⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Bomb load included 'Nickles' (propaganda leaflets) in addition to six 500-pound bombs.
Sortie Report⇗
53⇗ 14 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Meillard, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑37848⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group.
FLIGHT TIME 4:30
Sortie Report⇗
55⇗ 29 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Lead group
Sortie Report⇗
56⇗ 30 January 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group.
FLIGHT TIME 6:45
Sortie Report⇗
61⇗ 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
64⇗ 21 February 1944 Target: Fighter Field & Aircraft Storage Depot
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Werl, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Released 25 parcels of G-27 'nickles' (propaganda leaflets) and six 500-pound general-purpose bombs on the target.
Sortie Report⇗
69⇗ 2 March 1944 Target: Alfred Teves Main Works: Aircraft Parts Plant and Machine Shop
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
70⇗ 3 March 1944 Target: Roller-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back because of severe vibration in #3 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
71⇗ 4 March 1944 Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31495⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑39888. Turned back at 1018 hrs because #2 & #3 engines were running rough, were smoking and detonating; tach and manifold pressure oscillated.
Sortie Report⇗
72⇗ 6 March 1944 Target: Erkner Ball-Bearing Factory
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31495⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron deputy, high composite group, 41st Composite Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
74⇗ 9 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
75⇗ 16 March 1944 Target: Aircraft Assembly & Repair Works
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
78⇗ 20 March 1944 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
79⇗ 22 March 1944 Target: Heinkel Aircraft Assembly Plant at Annahof Airfield
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Dropped 25 parcels of G-31 'Nickles' (propaganda leaflets), in addition to bombs.
Sortie Report⇗
80⇗ 23 March 1944 Target: Airdrome and Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Gütersloh, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined the lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
81⇗ 24 March 1944 Target: Ball-Bearing Plant
Type: Bearings Industry
Location: Schweinfurt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
94 Group. Turned back over Kettering at 1210 hrs because #3 prop ran away.
Sortie Report⇗
85⇗ 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3440⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
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 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
91⇗ 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy. Landed to correct loose gas cap problem, then took off and joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
92⇗ 20 April 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31435⇗ Combat Mission Credit
B Wing, High Group.
Sortie Report⇗
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Tail Gunner 42‑39888⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑39888. Sustained 20mm cannon damage.
Sortie Report⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97521⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
97⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97251⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron 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 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97404⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
100⇗ 4 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97282⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102459⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
103⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑31495⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Hit by continuously tracking flak about one minute before bombs away; aircraft hit by burst between tail and waist doors and went into very steep uncontrollable dive; was seen to hit the ground still burning; tail gunner seemed to be blown out with no chutes observed; crashed near Le Foyer, France. MACR 4561
Sortie Report⇗

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