William Herbert Brassfield
Military
Pilot
340th Bomb Group - 489th Bomb Squadron - 12th AF
Photo taken prior to entering pilot training
Brassfield family collection
Object Number - UPL 54847 - Captain William Herbert Brassfield Pilot 340th Bomb Group - 489th Bomb Squadron - 12th AF Photo taken prior to entering pilot training
William Herbert Brassfield earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Michigan.
He worked in the manned spaceflight program.
He retired from the USAF with the rank of Colonel.
Connections
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Units served with

- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment

- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People

- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-447933
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft

- Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
- Nicknames: Snot Nose
- Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
- Nicknames: Briefing Time
- Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
- Nicknames: Morning Mission
- Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
- Nicknames: Comin Over Hun
- Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron

- Aircraft Type: B-25 Mitchell
- Nicknames: Flak Fodder II
- Unit: 340th Bomb Group 489th Bomb Squadron
Places

- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Advanced Landing Ground Alesanie
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Carpenter, Kentucky | 15 June 1920 | |
Other Received Private Pilot's License |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | 30 May 1941 | Airman Certificate # 63289-41 |
Other B-25 Phase Training |
Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina | 29 November 1943 - 31 January 1944 | 309th BG 376th BS |
Other 340th Bomb Group Combat Tour |
Alesani Airfield, Corsica | 14 May 1944 - 3 January 1945 | Flew 389 Combat Hours |
Other 1st Combat Mission |
Pontassieve, Italy | 19 May 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-4101 2 hours 45 minutes |
Other 2nd Combat Mission |
Ficulle, Italy | 25 May 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27517 Bombs not dropped. One a/c missing due to AA fire. 2 hours |
Other 3rd Combat Mission |
Orvieto, Italy | 26 May 1944 | Railroad Viaduct 43-4101 2 hours 25 minutes |
Other 4th Combat Mission |
Marzabotto, Italy | 27 May 1944 | Highway and Railroad Bridges 43-27486 9R Flak encountered 2:00 hours |
Other 5th Combat Mission |
Pisa, Italy | 28 May 1944 | Railroad Bridge 2 hours 25 minutes |
Other 6th Combat Mission |
Bucine, Italy | 28 May 1944 | Viaduct 9N 2 hours 45 minutes no flak |
Other 7th Combat Mission |
Guarcino, Italy | 30 May 1944 | German road block 9N 3 hours 30 minutes heavy and accurate flak |
Other 8th Combat Mission |
Narni, Italy | 1 June 1944 | Bridge 43-27544 9Y 1 hour 50 minutes no flak |
Other 9th Combat Mission |
Foligno, Italy | 2 June 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-4071 9B 2 hours 35 minutes intense AA fire Spitfires strafed gun positon at Perugia |
Other 10th Combat Mission |
Civita, Castellana, Italy | 3 June 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27659 9W 2 hours no flak |
Other 11th Combat Mission |
Gricigliana, Italy | 4 June 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-4071 9B 2 hours 10 minutes no flak. German fighters observed |
Other 12th Combat Mission |
Narni, Italy | 6 June 1944 | German road block 43-27746 9E 1 hour 35 minutes no flak |
Other 13th Combat Mission |
Bucine, Italy | 8 June 1944 | Viaduct 43-27486 9R 2 hours 10 minutes no flak |
Other 14th Combat Mission |
Bucine, Italy | 10 June 1944 | Viaduct 43-27486 9R 1 hour 40 minutes no flak. Gunners observed two ships shot down over Leghorn at our rear. Hole in the camera window. Awarded his 2nd OLC to his Air Medal |
Other 15th Combat Mission |
Cecina, Italy | 13 June 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27667 9Z 2 hours 45 minutes flak encountered. Perugia was target, dropped bombs on bridge at Cecina. |
Other 16th Combat Mission |
Pistoia, Italy | 15 June 1944 | Viaduct 43-27486 9R 2 hours 35 minutes no flak |
Other 17th Combat Mission |
Piombino, Italy | 16 June 1944 | Propaganda leaflets dropped at Piombino, Sienta and Leghorn 43-27746 9E 3 hours 10 minutes inaccurate flak at Piombino |
Other 18th Combat Mission |
Saviano, Italy | 21 June 1944 | Railroad Bridge 9I 2 Hours 5 Minutes Intense, accurate flak Awarded a 2nd OLC to his AM |
Other 19th Combat Mission |
Pietrasanta, Italy | 30 June 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27486 9R 2 hours 30 minutes Intense, heavy accurate flak around Prado |
Other 20th Combat Mission |
Prato, Italy | 1 July 1944 | Railroad Bridge and Tunnel 43-4071 9B 2 hours 40 minutes Moderate, inaccurate flak. Left wing ship hit |
Other 21st Combat Mission |
Parma, Italy | 6 July 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27667 9Z 2 hours 35 minutes No AA fire encountered |
Other 22nd Combat Mission |
Ostiglia, Italy | 8 July 1944 | Fuel Tanks 43-27659 9W 2 hours 30 minutes Light, accurate flak. One hole in front of upper turret |
Other 23rd Combat Mission |
Rovigo, Italy | 11 July 1944 | Rail Yard 43-4071 9B 3 hours Inaccurate flak near the coast upon return |
Other 24th Combat Mission |
Chiavari, Italy | 12 July 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27486 9R 2 hours 35 minutes |
Other 25th Combat Mission |
Buccino, Italy | 13 July 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27486 9R 1 hour Had to abort over Piombino due to 3 cylinders blown in #1 engine. |
Other 26th Combat Mission |
Castelfranco, Italy | 14 July 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27659 9W 3 hours 35 minutes Flew as #5 ship with the 487th BS. Scant but accurate flak in the vicinity of Ferarra He was awarded a 3rd OLC to his Air Medal. |
Other 27th Combat Mission |
Mantua, Italy | 20 July 1944 | Road and Rail Bridges 43-27638 9D 2 hours 40 minutes Very inaccurate flak encountered over coast upon return |
Other 28th Combat Mission |
Cervo, Italy | 25 July 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27667 9Z 2 hours 30 minutes no flak encountered |
Other Aborted Combat Mission |
Tyrrhenian Sea | 26 July 1944 | 43-27638 9D Forced to abort and return due to a loose gas cap. 1 hour 5 minutes |
Other 29th Combat Mission |
Carisasca, Italy | 27 July 1944 | Road Bridge 43-27667 9Z 2 hours 30 minutes No Flak |
Other 30th Combat Mission |
Canneto, Italy | 1 August 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-4016 9V 2 hours 55 minutes No AA Fire |
Other 31st Combat Mission |
Nice, France | 6 August 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27655 9M 2 hours 35 minutes Heavy, intense, accurate AA fire. Hole in nose and hole under right wing He was awarded a 4th OLC to his Air Medal |
Other 32nd Combat Mission |
Livron, France | 7 August 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27486 9R 3 hours 50 minutes No AA fire |
Other 33rd Combat Mission |
in the vicinity of St. Tropez, France | 11 August 1944 | German gun positions 43-27486 9R 2 hours 35 minutes |
Other 34th Combat Mission |
east of Pibonson, France | 12 August 1944 | German gun positions 43-27638 9D 2 hours 50 minutes No AA fire |
Other 35th Combat Mission |
near Le Ciotat, France | 13 August 1944 | German gun positions 43-27667 9Z 3 hours Inaccurate AA fire |
Other 36th Combat Mission |
Le Trayas, France | 15 August 1944 | 1st of two missions this date Road Bridge 43-4058 9F 4 hours 20 minutes He was awarded a 5th OLC to his AM |
Other 37th Combat Mission |
Avignon, France | 15 August 1944 | 2nd mission on this date Road Bridge 43-4058 9F 4 hours 20 minutes Heavy, intense, accurate AA fire. 9P (Thomas Baxter & Crew) was lost. |
Other 38th Combat Mission |
Livron, France | 16 August 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-4058 9E 3 hours 40 minutes Lead Ship. No AA fire encountered |
Other 39th Combat Mission |
Avignon, France | 23 August 1944 | German Gun Positions 43-27486 9R 3 hours 55 minutes Scant but accurate AA fire encountered |
Other 40th Combat Mission |
Cassano d'Adda, Italy | 2 September 1944 | Bridge 43-27486 9R 2 hours 35 minutes Inaccurate AA fire encountered |
Other 41st Combat Mission |
Canneto, Italy | 5 September 1944 | Bridge 43-4101 9K 3 hours No AA fire |
Other 43rd Combat Mission |
San Marcello Pistolese, Italy | 10 September 1944 | Gothic Line Defenses 43-27746 9E 2 hours 10 minutes Scant but fairly accurate AA fire He was awarded a 6th OLC to his Air Medal |
Other 44th Combat Mission |
Bologna, Italy | 16 September 1944 | Transport Repair Depot 43-35984 9B 3 hours 40 minutes AA fire inaccurate Gun positions were attached by dive bombers, fighters and B-25s with phosphorous bombs |
Other 45th Combat Mission |
Borgoforte, Italy | 30 September 1944 | Bridge 43-27486 9R 2 hours 40 minutes AA fire fairly accurate. Did not drop bombs |
Other 48th Combat Mission |
Magenta, Italy | 1 October 1944 | Gun positions at bridge west of Milan 43-4000 9X 2 hours 45 minutes carrying chaff and phosphorous bombs. Bombs did not release |
Other 49th Combat Mission |
Magenta, Italy | 3 October 1944 | Bridge west of Milan 43-27746 9E 3 hours 15 minutes Heavy, intense very accurate AA fire. Holes in the bombardier's and pilot's windshields. Harper wounded in the right hand |
Other 50th Combat Mission |
south of Bologna, Italy | 12 October 1944 | Supply Dump 43-27486 9R 3 hours 15 minutes AA fire rather intense but inaccurate |
Other 51st Combat Mission |
Galliate, Italy | 15 October 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27486 9R 3 hours AA fire intense, but apparently not fired at our flight |
Other 52nd Combat Mission |
Magenta, Italy | 18 October 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27669 9W AA fire scant buy fairly accurate. Did not bomb due to undercast. |
Other 54th Combat Mission |
Fornovo, Italy | 20 October 1944 | Bridge 43-27705 9N 3 hours 45 minutes No AA fire encountered |
Other 55th Combat Misssion |
Villafranca d'Asti, Italy | 4 November 1944 | Bridge 43-27655 9M No AA fire encountered 9E (43-27746 with Roseler Crew) crashed into the city of Allesandria |
Other 56th Combat Mission |
Padua Italy | 5 November 1944 | Bridge 43-27486 9R 3 hours 30 minutes AA fire inaccurate |
Other 57th Combat Mission |
Ala, Italy | 7 November 1944 | Bridge 43-27486 9R 3 hours 10 minutes AA fire scant but fairly accurate |
Other 58th Combat Mission |
Casale Monferrato, Italy | 10 November 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-27667 9Z 2 hours 50 minutes AA fire heavy, itense and accurate! about 15 holes in the ship |
Other 59th Combat Mission |
Alessandria, Italy | 16 November 1944 | Nickel Mission 43-35984 9B 3 hours 40 minutes No AA fire Lead Ship |
Other Combat Mission |
Faenza, Italy | 17 November 1944 | Bridge 43-27667 9Z 2 hours 20 minutes Flak inaccurate |
Other 61st Combat Mission |
Noska, Yugoslavia (now Croatia) | 18 November 1944 | Railroad Bridge 43-35984 9B 4 hours 50 minutes No AA fire |
Other Assigned to 140th AAF Base Unit |
Moody Army Airfield, Georgia | 6 June 1945 - 14 July 1945 | A-26 Pilot |
Other Assigned to the 3502nd AAF Base Unit |
15 July 1945 - 1 January 1947 | Aircraft Maintenance Officer | |
Other Director of Engineering & Director of Titan IIIM, Manned Orbiting Laboratory |
Los Angeles Air Force Station, Los Angeles, California | 1 August 1966 - 31 July 1968 | HQ Space Systems Division Air Force Space Command |
Died |
Junction City, Oregon | 17 December 2000 | |
Buried |
Junction City, Oregon | 20 December 2000 | Rest Lawn Memorial Park Junction City, Lane County, Oregon, USA |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | |||
Other Graduated |
Ann Arbor, Michigan | University of Michigan Bachelor of Science Electrical Engineering | |
Other Deputy Director For Re-Entry Systems USA |
Norton Air Force Base, San Bernadino, California | Plans, implements, supervises and coordinates Ballistic Missile Re-entry Systems efforts on advancement of re-entry technology and measurement of re-entry phenomena. Performs technical liaison with civilian and military agencies such as ARPA, DASA, OAR, AEC, US Army, US Navy and various AICBM and Penetration Evaluation Commitees. | |
Other USAAF Pre-Flight Training |
Santa Ana Army Airfield, California | ||
Other USAAF Primary Flight Training |
Tulare, California | Rankin Airfield School ran by the civilian company Rankin Aeronautical Academy | |
Other USAAF Basic Flight Training |
Merced Army Airfield, California | ||
Other USAAF Advanced Flight Training |
Yuma Army Airbase, Arizona | ||
Other USAAF Transition Training |
Mather Army Airfield, California |
Revisions
Brassfield Family Collection - William H. Brassfield mission diaries
Brassfield Family Collection - William H. Brassfield mission diaries.
Brassfield Family Collection - Mission Diary of William H. Brassfield
Brassfield Family Collection - William H. Brassfield Mission Diary.
Brassfield Family Collection - Mission notes from William H. Brassfield's personal mission notebooks
Various original copies of HQ 12th AF General Orders
William Herbert Brassfield AAF Officers Qualification Record
Personal papers of William Herbert Brassfield
Private papers of William Herbert Brassfield