O'Bryan, William Herbert, Jr

Individual Personnel Data
Name O'Bryan, William Herbert, Jr   ‡
⇗
Rank Corporal / Sergeant
Serial Number 32586344   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #36 dated 13 February 1945, effective 13 February 1945.
  • Transferred to the 34th Bomb group for return to Zone of the Interior (ZOI), per 545th Bomb Squadron Morning Report (reference to 1st Air Division Special Orders #176 EXTRACT) dated 26 June 1945, effective 28 June 1945.
Duty Flexible Gunner / Togglier
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 26 June 1945
Results Transferred
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 28 November 1922
  • Promoted to Sergeant effective 18 February 1945 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #40 dated 18 February 1945.
  • Injured in crash landing returning from 26 March 1945 mission: returned to duty.
  • Ordered to Palace Hotel, Southport, AAF Station 524 (a Flak house) on 2 April 1945 for seven days temporary duty per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #70 dated 1 April 1945.
Related Documents Accident Report # 45-03-26-525⇓ (6.320 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
Flt. Ofcr. Lucas, Roy E⇗PilotTBD
Flt. Ofcr. Swarts, Richard Pearl⇗Co-pilotTBD
Flt. Ofcr. Hecimovich, Louis Martin⇗NavigatorTR
CPL. Perrong, Henry James⇗TogglierCT
CPL. DePeri, Charles Francis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
CPL. Reinhardt, Charles Louis, Jr, "Rocky"⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerFCMEW
CPL. Barrett, Robert Byandt⇗Ball Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Deal, Burr Winton, Jr⇗Tail GunnerCT
CPL. O'Bryan, William Herbert, JrFlexible GunnerTR
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 16 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
278⇗ 1 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Bruchsal, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38678⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
279⇗ 2 March 1945 Target: Low Temperature Carbonization Plant and Refinery of Deutsche Petroleum A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Rositz, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑107148⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
280⇗ 3 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑107125⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
282⇗ 7 March 1945 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bochum, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38974⇗ Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗
283⇗ 8 March 1945 Target: Oil Refinery - 'Benzol Plant'
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Essen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑37917⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
287⇗ 12 March 1945 Target: Railway Center
Type: Transportation
Location: Betzdorf, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 43‑38647⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
288⇗ 14 March 1945 Target: Railroad Bridge, Weser River
Type: Transportation
Location: Bad Oeynhausen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
290⇗ 17 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bohlen (Leipzig), Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑32106⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Although not specifically listed in mission documents as a ground spare, this aircraft replaced 42-97309 prior to the mission.
Sortie Report⇗
291⇗ 18 March 1945 Target: Schlesischer Railway Station
Type: Transportation
Location: Berlin, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
292⇗ 19 March 1945 Target: Braunkohle-Benzin Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bohlen, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97309⇗ Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, High Squadron Hot Camera ship.
Sortie Report⇗
293⇗ 20 March 1945 Target: Deutsche Werft Submarine Shipyard
Type: Submarine Facility
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑32106⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
295⇗ 23 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Gladbeck, Germany 		Togglier 44‑8679⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
296⇗ 24 March 1945 Target: Vechta Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Vechta, Germany 		Togglier 44‑8679⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
298⇗ 26 March 1945 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany 		Togglier 44‑6109⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Running short of fuel, attempted to land at an emergency airfield near Cranbrook, Kent, but crashed in Brewers Wood, on Hawkridge Farm near Cranbrook, Kent ('500 yards North of Hargridge House'). The pilot was killed and two crewman were injured seriously.
Sortie Report⇗
301⇗ 31 March 1945 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Lützkendorf, Germany 		Tail Gunner 44‑8408⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
310⇗ 14 April 1945 Target: Gun Battery
Type: Military
Location: Royan (Bordeaux), France 		Togglier 42‑102620⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 43‑37717. Flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report⇗

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