Hilliard, Donald Ervin

Individual Personnel Data
Name Hilliard, Donald Ervin   ‡
⇗
Rank Corporal / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number 37519899   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #239 dated 5 December 1944, effective 5 December 1944.
  • Transferred to a non-384th unit, per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report - 410th Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group, AAF Station 468, effective 13 October 1945.
Duty Radio Operator / Gunner
MOS757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
Last Duty Date 13 October 1945
Results Transferred
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 16 October 1924
  • On the 26 February 1945 mission to Berlin, the crew was reported missing on MACR 12760. Their aircraft had a run-away prop and lost oxygen at 32,000 ft, possibly due to flak. They made a wheels-up forced landing in Rawa Ruska, Poland. The crew were met by Russians (allies at that time) and taken to Lvov, Poland for two weeks until 'rescued' by a U.S. Salvage crew in a stripped-down B-17, who flew them to Poltve [Poltava?], Russia. ATC returned them to Grafton Underwood via Tehran, Iran, Athens, Greece, Cairo, Eqypt, Tunisia, Naples, Italy and Brighton, England.
  • Promoted to Sergeant effective 10 December 1944 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #242 dated 10 December 1944.
  • Promoted to Staff Sergeant effective 13 April 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #80 dated 13 April 1945.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 12760⇓ (2.688 MB)
Photos of this Veteran signing the Wing PanelHilliard Signing⇗
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. MacDonald, Ranald Hugh, III⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Jones, Robert McCord, "Mack"⇗Co-pilotCT
Flt. Ofcr. Carr, Robert John⇗NavigatorTR
2nd Lt. Slachetka, Henry Joseph⇗BombardierCT
CPL. Hilliard, Donald ErvinRadio Operator / GunnerTR
CPL. Cunningham, John F⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerFCMEW
CPL. Holmes, Edwin Lamar⇗Ball Turret GunnerTBD
CPL. Hughes, Ralph B⇗Tail GunnerCT
CPL. Casagrande, Mario Joseph⇗Flexible GunnerCT
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 16 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
266⇗ 14 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Dresden, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑37971⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron flying spare; joined formation (low Squadron).
Sortie Report⇗
268⇗ 19 February 1945 Target: Coking Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8408⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
269⇗ 20 February 1945 Target: Main Railroad Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Nuremberg / Nürnberg, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
272⇗ 23 February 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Plauen, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8408⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at RAF Wyton, Cambridgeshire.
Sortie Report⇗
274⇗ 25 February 1945 Target: Tank & Submarine Engine Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Friedrichshafen, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8679⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron. Landed away at RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, due to low fuel.
Sortie Report⇗
275⇗ 26 February 1945 Target: Schlesicher Railroad Station (Bahnhof)
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38823⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Damaged by flak near the I.P.; at 1158 one engine was feathered; at 1230 hrs #2 and #4 engines were out, and aircraft was under control, headed toward Russia. MACR 12760
Sortie Report⇗
305⇗ 6 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards (Visual Primary)
Type: Transportation
Location: Leipzig, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38994⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
306⇗ 7 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Plant
Type: Military
Location: Hitzacker, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
307⇗ 9 April 1945 Target: Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Fürstenfeldbruck, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑37917⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
308⇗ 10 April 1945 Target: Ordnance Depot Workshop Area
Type: Military
Location: Oranienburg, Germany 		Radio Operator 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
309⇗ 11 April 1945 Target: Underground Oil Storage Depot
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Freiham, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8679⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed at RAF Hunsdon, Hertfordshire, on return due to low fuel; returned to base after refuelling.
Sortie Report⇗
310⇗ 14 April 1945 Target: Gun Battery
Type: Military
Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France 		Radio Operator 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
311⇗ 15 April 1945 Target: Flak guns at Pointe de Suzac
Type: Military
Location: Royan, France 		Radio Operator 43‑38839⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
313⇗ 17 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Dresden, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑37717⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
314⇗ 19 April 1945 Target: Railroad Station & Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Elsterwerda, Germany 		Radio Operator 44‑8541⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron lead. PFF & Gee-H ship.
Sortie Report⇗
315⇗ 20 April 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Seddin, Germany 		Radio Operator 43‑38673⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗

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