Cruise, James Henry

Individual Personnel Data
Name Cruise, James Henry   ‡
⇗
Rank Staff Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 32502421   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #37 dated 24 February 1944, effective 24 February 1944.
  • Transferred to the 12th RCD (Special Orders #207, Headquarters, 1st Bomb Division), per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 28 July 1944, effective 28 July 1944.
Duty Engineer / Top Turret Gunner / Flexible Gunner
MOS748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
Last Duty Date 28 July 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 18 December 1907
  • Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #56 dated 24 March 1944.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty to Walhampton House near Lymington, Hampshire (a Flak house) on or about 11 May 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #87 dated 10 May 1944
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Kelly, John Thomas⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Roth, Verle Leroy⇗Co-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Welsbacher, Robert Henry, "Bob"⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Dotherow, Ed (NMI)⇗BombardierCT
S/SGT. Trypuc, John Vincent, Jr⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Cruise, James HenryEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
PVT. Chouinard, Garnet (NMI)⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
SGT. Wray, Forrest Donald⇗Flexible GunnerCT
SGT. Madera, Alfred (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerTBD
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 32 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
82⇗ 26 March 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Le Grismont, Rebecques, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
83⇗ 27 March 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Tours & Chartres, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
94 Group.
Sortie Report⇗
84⇗ 28 March 1944 Target: Dijon-Longvic Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dijon, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38013⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
85⇗ 29 March 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Brunswick / Braunschweig, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97231⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
86⇗ 9 April 1944 Target: FW-190 Fighter Aircraft Assembly Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Marienburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97201⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back at 0915; could not locate formation due to bad weather.
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 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97201⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
88⇗ 11 April 1944 Target: FW Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Sorau, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97201⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
90⇗ 18 April 1944 Target: Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97237⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
91⇗ 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
93⇗ 22 April 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Hamm, Germany 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97372⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
95⇗ 25 April 1944 Target: Metz-Frescaty Airdrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Metz, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑38013⇗ Flying Spare, Returned As Briefed
Sortie Report⇗
97⇗ 27 April 1944 Target: Toul/Croix de Metz Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Engineer/Top Turret 42‑97201⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
98⇗ 29 April 1944 Target: Industrial District
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group deputy. Assumed lead after group lead aborted.
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 42‑97237⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low group deputy. Bomb release mechanism malfunctioned; bombs jettisoned 16 minutes after target.
Sortie Report⇗
103⇗ 8 May 1944 Target: V-Weapon Service Bunker (under construction)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Sottevast, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97367⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
111⇗ 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102402⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group A Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
114⇗ 24 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Military Installations
Type: Military
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
115⇗ 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
117⇗ 28 May 1944 Target: Junkers Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Group Deputy. Assumed lead after equipment failures on the lead aircraft.
Sortie Report⇗
120⇗ 30 May 1944 Target: Aircraft Hangars and Repair Sheds
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38014⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
124⇗ 3 June 1944 Target: Coastal Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Le Touquet, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97072⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron, Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
125⇗ 4 June 1944 Target: Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: Hardelot (Boulogne area), France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
K Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
130⇗ 7 June 1944 Target: Transportation Hub
Type: Military
Location: Condé-sur-Noireau, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
131⇗ 8 June 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (41C) & Loire River Railroad Bridge (41D)
Type: Transportation
Location: Orleans, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Wing, Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
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 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
-- 11 June 1944 None
Non-combat sortie 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
1st Lt. Kelly and his crew flew as Group Lead of the 306th BG in the 40th Combat Bombardment Wing 'B' on this date.
Sortie Report⇗
134⇗ 13 June 1944 Target: Dreux Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
135⇗ 14 June 1944 Target: Coulommiers Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Coulommiers, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41D Group, Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
137⇗ 16 June 1944 Target: Athies Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Laon, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Deputy. Moved from #5 position in Low Squadron to #2 (Deputy) position in High Squadron after designated Deputy could not locate formation.
Sortie Report⇗
138⇗ 18 June 1944 Target: Ölwerke Julius Humbles
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
139⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
140⇗ 19 June 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Fleury & Crépy, France 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97960⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41A Group deputy. One engine and aileron control were shot out by flak on bomb run. Bombs were jettisoned 200 yds. from target and plane left formation
Sortie Report⇗

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