Sgt Manuel S.Torres , 550th BS. - Missing missions and Aircraft -5/20/44 - 11/5/44.

drummerboy

Thanks, to Bill Varnedoe,Jr. for furnishing this information on Sgt. Manuel  S. Torres's 22 missions ,12 flown on "Haybag Annie" and the 10 other aircraft he flew on during his tour , 5/20/44-11/5/44 
Mission#110 - 5/20/44-BTG -LIEGE ,BELGUIM -"The Purple Shaft"- #42-31922
Mission# 111 - 5/22/44-TG -KIEL,GERMANY -   "Haybag Annie" - #   42-97280
Mission #116 - 5/28/44 -WG-KONIGSBURG ,GERMANY-"Curleys Kids"    -  #  42-102606
Mission# 118 - 5/30/44 - WG-HAMM,GERMANY -"Curleys Kids" -  # 42-102606
Mission #120 - 6/2/44 -   BTG-EQUIHEN ,FRANCE-"Haybag Annie" -# 42-97280
Mission # 124 - 6/4/44 -  WG -VERSAILLES, FRANCE- "Haybag Annie" -# 42-97280
Mission # 127 - 6/6/44 -  BTG - ARGENTAN, FRANCE -" Heavenly Body" - #44-6008
Mission # 129 - 6/7/44 -  WG -  NIORT/ NIART -FRANCE - " Sleepy Time Gal " -# 42-102636  
Mission # 134 -  6/15/44 - WG - HANOVER, GERMANY    -  "Roger the Dodger " - #42-97275
Mission # 142 -  6/25/44 - WG - FRENCH SUPPLY         -  "Homesck Angel'      - #42-107135
Mission#  153  - 7/16/44 -  WG - STUTTGART, GERMANY - "Haybag Annie"      - # 42-97280
Mission # 154 - 7/19/44 -  WG -EBELSBACH, GERMANY  -" Haybag Annie"      - # 42-97280
Mission # 164 - 8/4/44 -   WG - HAMBURG, GERMANY  -  "Haybag Annie"       -#  42-97280
Mission # 168 - 8/8/44  -  WG -GROUND SUPPORT      - " Haybag Annie"       - # 42-97280
Mission # 170 - 8/11/44  - WG - BELFORT, FRANCE       - " Haybag Annie"     - # 42-97280
Mission # 173  -  8/15/44 - WG - MUNSTER, GERMANY   - " Haybag Annie"      -# 42-97280
Mission # 177 -  8/25/44 - WG - RECHLIN, GERMANY     - "Back to the Sack"  -# 42- 97507
Mission  # 187 -  9/22/44 -  WG - KASSEL , GERMANY     - "Haybag Annie "      - #42- 97280
Mission   # 191  - 9/28/44 - WG - MERSBERG, GERMANY  -  "Haybag Annie"       -# 42- 97280
Mission   # 195 -  10/7/44   - WG - BIELFIELD, GERMANY -  "Haybag Annie"   -# 42-97280
Mission #   206  -  11/2/44   - CTG - MERSBERG, GERMANY- " Kentucky Winner " -# 42 -102481
Mission  #  208   - 11/5/44   - CTG - LUDWIGSSHAFEN, GERMANY - " Lil'Lu " -  #43- 38612

dmhinesley

My Grandfather, Warren L. Westerfield flew the same missions on the same planes as your Mr. Torres. If our information is correct then we have two individuals who were in the same crew. Would like to talk to you. dhinesley@comcast.net

Hello Dave,
In HONOR of Fathers Day this Sunday June 17th I thought it would a nice gesture to post your Grandfather,Sgt Warren Logan Westerfields twenty four combat missions with the 385thBG,550th.BS .
Sgt Westerfield was assigned as a Radio operator during his tour  from 5/9/44 - 10/7/44 .He also  flew twenty missions with Sgt. Manuel S .Torres flying as a gunner .  Sgt. Torres combat tour was from 5/20/44- 11/5/44 during which he completed twenty two missions flown on ten different planes .  Manuel flew twelve missions on " Haybag Annie" with your Grandfather .The only missions Sgt Torres did not fly with your Grandfather were missions #105 ,#107,#108 and #160. Listed below are Sgt.Westerfields missions.
Mission #  Date    Target       Aircraft Name      Aircraft Number
105           5/9/44   LAON      " Barbara B "          #42-32078
107           5/12/44  ZWICHAU  Unnamed       # 42-107031
108           5/14/44 ONABRUCK  Unnamed        # 42-107031
110           5/20/44  LIEGE       " The Purple Shaft"  #42-31922
111           5/22/44  KIEL          " Haybag Annie "     #42-97280
116           5/28/44  KONIGBURG  " Curleys Kids "      #42-102606
118           5/30/44  HAMM         " Curleys Kids"        #42-102606
120            6/2/44    EQUIHEN   " Haybag Annie "     #42-97280
124            6/4/44    VERSAILLES " Haybag Annie"      #42-97280
127            6/6/44     ARGENTAN " Heavenly Body"     #44-6008
129            6/7/44     NIORT        "Sleepytime Gal "     #42-102636
134            6/15/44   HANOVER   " Roger the Dodger" #42-97275
142            6/25/44   FRENCH SUPPLY " Homesick Angel" #42-107135
153            7/16/44   STUTTGART         "Haybag Annie"     #42-97280
154            7/19/44   EBELSBACH        "Haybag Annie "     # 42-97280
160            7/29/44   MERSEBURG       " Haybag Annie"     # 42-97280
164            8/4/44     HAMBURG            "Haybag Annie"      #42-97280
168           8/8/44      GROUND SUPPORT "Haybag Annie"   #42-97280
170           8/11/44    BELFORT                " Haybag Annie"   #42-97280
173           8/15/44    MUNSTER               "Haybag Annie "    #42-97280
177           8/25/44    RECHLIN                "Back to the Shack" #42-97507
187           9/22/44    KASSELL                  " Haybag Annie"       #42-97280
191           9/28/44    MERSBURG              "Haybag Annie"       #42-97280
195           10/7/44    BIELEFIED             "Haybag Annie"       #42-97280
I hope this information will be useful to you . It would also be great to get your feedback .
Thank You, Sgt Warren L. Westerfield for your SERVICE .

.

dmhinesley

One missing mission for my Grandpa Logan .

11-May-44 Brussels. Bauman. 42-107031. .?

With this mission he totaled 25 which earned hin The distinguished Flying Cross. I have this medal and his Air Medal with the original papers. On his Flying Cross papers there are eleven other airmen listed for the medal. I wonder if any were crewmen with Terres and Westerfield.

Dave,
Thanks for your reply and  for providing the copies of the DFC documents. Unfortunately Sgt. Manuel S. Torres was not listed on these documents. I did find the name of T/Sgt Paul C.Jardo . T/Sgt. Jardo flew nineteen  missions as the Top Turret gunner with your grandfather . T/Sgt. Westerfield was assigned as the Radio Operator/ Gunner . According to the documents you provided  T/Sgt  Jardo was also awarded the DFC . Manuel  flew his first mission on  5/20/44  (BTG)  to LIEGE ,BELGIUM on" The  Purple Shaft " # 42-31922 with the Smith crew.  Sgt Torres completed twenty missions with your grandfather. T/Sgt Jardo  also completed eighteen missions with Sgt Torres.
The aircraft #42-107031 your grandfather flew on May  11, 1944 to BRUSSELS, BELGIUM was not named .The primary targets were the Marshaling yards located  in Brussels Belgium.The railroad junctions  located in MALINES , BELGIUM were labeled as Targets of Opportunity on this day .These missions were carried out in  preparation for the Normandy " D Day" Invasion  of Europe on June 6, 1944 code named " OPERATION OVERLORD."