Crews of the United States 8th Army Air Force were required to fly 25 missions before getting a furlough.  Many crews did not make half of that.

The job of being a crew member on any of these aircraft was the most dangerous job in any theatre of operation during WWII. 

Personal Flight Logs were frowned upon by the brass but 1st Lt. Charles L. Gempel, my great uncle, recorded 23 of his 25 missions, and these were returned to my great grandmother after the war, within his personal effects, that were returned to the family.  I am excited to share this  bit of history and my family heritage with you. 

These men and so many others in American Conflicts across the ages deserve our respect and adoration as we reminisce about what was and is now and into the future.

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All Missions Flown By: Charles  L.  Gempel Of The 44th Bomb Group  506 Squadron Missions Flown: 25

Mission Date	Mission No	Aircraft No	City	Country	Target
7/7/1944	182	42-95207	Bernburg	Germany	Aircraft Factory
7/11/1944	184	42-94952	Munich	Germany	Target of Opportunity because of weather conditions
7/12/1944	185	42-95207	Munich	Germany	Marshalling Yards
7/16/1944	187	42-95207	Saarbrucken	Germany	Rail and Communications
7/18/1944	188	42-95207	Troarn (Caen Area)	France	Troop Support
7/19/1944	189	42-95207	Koblenz	Germany	Marshalling Yards
7/20/1944	190	42-95207	Erfurt	Germany	North Airfield
7/21/1944	191	42-95207	Oberpfaffenhofen	Germany	Armaments
7/24/1944	192	42-95209	St. Lo	France	Support American Troops
7/25/1944	193	42-95209	St. Lo	France	Support American Troops
7/29/1944	194	42-95209	Oslebshausen	Germany	Ship Building Buildings
8/6/1944	202	42-50626	Hamburg	Germany	Oil Refinery
8/9/1944	205	42-50733	Saarbrucken	Germany	Marshalling Yards
8/13/1944	207	42-50733	Le Havre/Rouen	France	Road Junction (Lisieux)
8/14/1944	208	42-50733	Lyon/Bron	France	Airfield
8/25/1944	213	42-50626	Schwerin	Germany	Assembly for FW 190s
9/10/1944	220	44-10523	Ulm	Germany	Marshalling Yards
9/11/1944	221	44-10523	Misburg	Germany	Hanomag Works
9/28/1944	229	44-10523	Kassel	Germany	Motor Works
10/5/1944	233	42-50644	Lippstadt	Germany	Airfield
10/12/1944	237	42-50535	Osnabruck	Germany	Marshalling Yards
10/14/1944	238	42-50644	Kaiserlautern	Germany	Marshalling Yards
10/17/1944	240	42-95209	Cologne	Germany	Nord Marshalling Yards
10/18/1944	241	42-95531	Leverkusen	Germany	Chemical Works
10/30/1944	245	44-10523	Hamburg /Ueterson	Germany	Oil Refinery

(Spreadsheet format Courtesy of  http://www.8thairforce.com   Computer Generated Data Ltd.  (c) 2013 All Rights Reserved. date links will take you to http://www.8thairforce.com )

 (Data supplied by hand written flight logs of Co-pilot Charles L. Gempel, 1st Lt. USAAC. Circa 1944. Originals from Jack R. Gempel Family Collection.)