Grafton Underwood, England (Station 106) 1943-1945
Combat History of the 384th Bombardment Group (Heavy) in WWII
384th Bombardment Group (Heavy)
"Keep The Show On The Road"
| Name | Welch, Paul Gerald ‡ |
| Rank | Staff Sergeant |
| Serial Number | 33350091 ‡ |
| Unit Assignments | Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943. |
| Duty | Radio Operator / Gunner |
| Last Duty Date | 4 July 1943 |
| Results |
Prisoner Of War POW Camp: Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf [actually Gneixendorf] Near Krems Austria 48-15 |
| Decorations | Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 4 July 1943 per General Orders #21, Headquarters, Miami District, AAF Personnel Distribution Command dated 1 September 1945. |
| Additional Information |
|
| Related Documents | Post Loss Document File #5⇗ |
| Photo Album: | Crew Photo Album⇗ |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| Flt. Ofcr. Erickson, Gordon Bennett⇗ | Pilot | EV |
| 2nd Lt. Dartt, Clifford Charles⇗ | Co-pilot | POW |
| 2nd Lt. Hackley, Francis Mercer⇗ | Navigator | KIA |
| 2nd Lt. Irvine, Donald Wesley⇗ | Bombardier | KIA |
| S/SGT. Welch, Paul Gerald | Radio Operator / Gunner | POW |
| S/SGT. Penly, Robert Horace⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | EV |
| S/SGT. Reandeau, Lawrence Joseph⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | POW |
| CPL. Mankowitz, Charles (NMI)⇗ | Tail Gunner | EV |
| S/SGT. Wingerter, Frank Jacob⇗ | Flexible Gunner | EV |
| CPL. Coburn, James P⇗ | Flexible Gunner | TR |
| Number | Date | Target | Position | Aircraft | Mission/Sortie Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2⇗ | 25 June 1943 |
Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany |
Radio Operator | 42‑29960⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off Initially took off at 0553-1/2, landed at 0618, then took off again at 0630; reasons for this are unknown. Returned to base due to weather conditions; pilot was unable to maintain contact with the formation. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 3⇗ | 26 June 1943 |
Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France |
Radio Operator | 42‑29960⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 4⇗ | 28 June 1943 |
Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France |
Radio Operator | 42‑29960⇗ |
Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back with #1 oil cooler leaking; top turret and ball turret problems. Sortie Report⇗ |
| 5⇗ | 29 June 1943 |
Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France |
Radio Operator | 42‑30030⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗ |
| 6⇗ | 4 July 1943 |
Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France |
Radio Operator | 42‑29960⇗ |
Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return Low Squadron Deputy. Damaged by flak after the target, then further attacked by Me-109s; crashed near Belfonds, France. No MACR Sortie Report⇗ |