William Herbert Brassfield

Military

media-54847.jpeg UPL 54847 Captain William Herbert Brassfield
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

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

340th Bomb Group

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

489th Bomb Squadron

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

People

Scott Herrin

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

43-27486

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

43-27638

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

43-27659

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

43-27667

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

43-27705

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

Places

Alesan Airfield

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

Date23 Jan 2022 20:01:09