Lacroix, James Joseph

Individual Personnel Data
Name Lacroix, James Joseph   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-676887   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #96 dated 14 September 1943, effective 14 September 1943.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 21 March 1944 - 305th Bomb Group, effective 18 March 1944.
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #61, effective 30 March 1944.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 2 August 1944
Results Completed Combat Tour
DecorationsAwarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for completing 31 combat missions.
Awarded the Air Medal and three oak leaf clusters for completing 21 combat missions.
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 2 June 1919
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Big Spring AAF, Big Spring, Texas, Class #43-06, 22 April 1943
  • Ordered to travel to Coombe House Hotel (a 'flak house'), Semley, Dorset, for seven days beginning 21 December 1943 on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #171 dated 20 December 1943.
  • Placed on seven days Temporary Duty on or about 7 March 1944 to Air Force Officers Rest Home, Stanbridge Earls, Hampshire (a Flak house) per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #41 dated 1 March 1944.
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
1st Lt. Kauffman, Giles Felker, Jr, "Junior"⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Molnar, George (NMI), "Hap"⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Pogorzelski, Frank (NMI), "Pogo"⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Lacroix, James JosephBombardierCT
T/SGT. Beck, Jules Theodore⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
T/SGT. Jarrell, William (NMI), "Whataman"⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Martinez, Jacob Mendoza, "Jake"⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Reuben, Stanley Thomas, "Rube"⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Spodar, Paul (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Seniawsky, Peter (NMI)⇗Flexible GunnerEV
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 31 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
26⇗ 27 September 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29987⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
27⇗ 2 October 1943 Target: Port Facilities
Type: Transportation
Location: Emden, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron Deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
28⇗ 4 October 1943 Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30043⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ditched North Sea; crew rescued and returned to duty.
Sortie Report⇗
31⇗ 10 October 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Münster, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Desborough due to weather.
Sortie Report⇗
--⇗ 30 October 1943 Target: Marshaling Yard
Type: Transportation
Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3441⇗ Sortie Report⇗
34⇗ 3 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3441⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Squadron of composite group.
Sortie Report⇗
35⇗ 5 November 1943 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑5838⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead; deputy flight lead.
Sortie Report⇗
38⇗ 29 November 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39796⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Turned back; oxygen system problems.
Sortie Report⇗
39⇗ 1 December 1943 Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Solingen, Germany 		Bombardier 41‑24578⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Flying Spare; joined formation. Landed away at Manston.
Sortie Report⇗
42⇗ 13 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead group, low Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
43⇗ 16 December 1943 Target: Port Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Bremen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑29927⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37793⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead
Sortie Report⇗
51⇗ 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37801⇗ High Squadron lead; did not take off due to engine trouble.
Sortie Report⇗
52⇗ 11 January 1944 Target: Ju-88 Aircraft Parts Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑30026⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑3440. High Squadron lead.
Sortie Report⇗
54⇗ 21 January 1944 Target: NOBALL (V-1 Launch Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Preuseville, France 		Bombardier 42‑31433⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B 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 		Bombardier 42‑39962⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead, high group, 41st A Combat Wing.
Sortie Report⇗
65⇗ 22 February 1944 Target: Aircraft Factory
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Halberstadt & Aschersleben, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37801⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
41B Group, High Squadron Lead; landed away at RAF Eastchurch, Essex, due to severe snow storm.
Sortie Report⇗
91⇗ 19 April 1944 Target: Fieseler Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Kassel (Waldau), Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97139⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
94⇗ 24 April 1944 Target: Dornier-Werke GMBH Aircraft Plant
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Oberpfaffenhofen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97637⇗ Combat Mission Credit
PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members supplied by 305th BG.
Sortie Report⇗
101⇗ 7 May 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing deputy. PFF ship and unidentified crew members provided by 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
106⇗ 12 May 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑102402⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
High Squadron lead, low group. Turned back at 1025 hrs because ball turret gunner blacked out at 8000 ft.
Sortie Report⇗
109⇗ 19 May 1944 Target: Unidentified Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Deputy. PFF ship and unidentified crew members provided by the 305th BG, Chelveston AAF, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
111⇗ 21 May 1944 Target: NOBALL (Supergun Site)
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Mimoyecques, France 		Bombardier 42‑97449⇗ Aborted Mission After Taking Off
Group A High Squadron Lead. Turned back at 1246 hrs because of an internal failure in #1 engine.
Sortie Report⇗
112⇗ 22 May 1944 Target: Warehouse District in the Dock Area
Type: Transportation
Location: Kiel, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑31801⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Wing Deputy. PFF aircraft and unidentified crew members provided by 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
115⇗ 25 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Sarreguemines and Blainville-sur-l'Eau, France 		Bombardier 42‑97072⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
116⇗ 27 May 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Mannheim, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
126⇗ 5 June 1944 Target: Field Artillery Battery
Type: Military
Location: La Fosse, France 		Bombardier 42‑97574⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Group, Wing Lead. PFF ship and unidentified crew members provided by the 305th BG, Chelveston, AAF Station 105.
Sortie Report⇗
128⇗ 6 June 1944 Target: Two Bridges
Type: Transportation
Location: Caen, France 		Bombardier 42‑102661⇗ Combat Mission Credit
I Squadron deputy.
Sortie Report⇗
141⇗ 20 June 1944 Target: Oil Refineries
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Harburg (Hamburg area), Germany 		Bombardier 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
142⇗ 21 June 1944 Target: Friedrichstrasse Industrial Area
Type: Industry
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107064⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft. replaced 44‑6080. Lead Group.
Sortie Report⇗
145⇗ 24 June 1944 Target: German Vacuum Oil Company
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Oslebshausen (Bremen area), Germany 		Bombardier 42‑107064⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group, 41st B wing.
Sortie Report⇗
149⇗ 30 June 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Montdidier, France 		Bombardier 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗
150⇗ 4 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Dreux (Conches-en-Ouche), France 		Bombardier 42‑102449⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High group lead. Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
160⇗ 18 July 1944 Target: Rocket Research & Development Complex
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Peenemünde & Zinnowitz, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑38208⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41B Group, High Squadron Lead.
Sortie Report⇗
161⇗ 19 July 1944 Target: Hydrogen Peroxide Plant
Type: CROSSBOW (V-Weapons)
Location: Höllriegelskreuth District, Pullach, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑97263⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, lead group.
Sortie Report⇗
162⇗ 20 July 1944 Target: Aircraft Plants
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Dessau, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37822⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Group, Low Squadron Lead. Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97263. Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
163⇗ 21 July 1944 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Schwäbisch Hall, Germany 		Bombardier 44‑6080⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron lead, high group.
Sortie Report⇗

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