Hometown Heroes of WW II
Albert E Briere (1923-1998), nose gunner, recognized
By Michael Rocchetti
The South West Pacific area was a major theater of war during WWII, with a very high tempo of military operations, attempting to dislodge the Japanese forces from their bases in the Solomon Islands, New Guinea, Borneo, and the Philippines. The Japanese Air Force had a significant presence in these islands, and this was a grave threat to Allied ground, sea and air forces.
The oil refinery at Balikpapan, Borneo was the major source of aviation fuel for the local Japanese forces – and Allied War planners decided that it had to be destroyed. The refinery was heavily defended by Japanese anti-aircraft artillery batteries and fighter interceptors, and the 5th and 13th Air Force, bombed it repeatedly at great cost in lives and aircraft, with 40 percent losses. However, the knockout blow finally came on Oct. 14, 1944 – a raid in which Albert Briere’s actions were recognized in a personal letter of commendation, dated June 25th, 1945, by General George C. Kenney, commander, Far East Air Forces in the Pacific theater of operations.
He wrote: “Your commendable action as nose gunner on a B-24 aircraft during a strike mission over Balikpapan, Borneo, on Oct. 14, 1944, has been brought to my attention. I wish to express my appreciation of your outstanding performance on this mission. It is through the devotion to duty of men such as yourself that the Far East Air Forces have been able to achieve their repeated successes. You have rendered a material contribution to the effective prosecution of the war and to our ultimate victory.” Albert Briere received an Air Medal, 5th Oak Leaf Cluster, and the award citation noted: “On that day Sgt. Briere was nose gunner in a seven ship formation on an aerial raid against the Edeleanu Sulfuric Acid Refinery Plant at Balikpapan, Borneo. This raid was one of the longest and most important raids undertaken by the Fifth Air Force. To arrive at the target necessitated flying through bad weather during hours of darkness and mostly over vast bodies of water. Despite these obstacles, the squadron arrived at the target at the appointed ETA and in perfect squadron formation so as to attain maximum protection and bombing results. The formation was attacked 15 minutes before reaching the target by 30 to 40 single seater enemy fighters, types variable, carrying phosphorous bombs, which they threw at the formation from head-on attacks in an earnest endeavor to throw our formation off their bomb run. After releasing their bombs, the enemy planes pressed attacks from angles around the dock to 150 yards with guns blazing. Over the target, the formation encountered heavy, intense, and accurate antiaircraft fire. In the face of this powerful enemy interception, and accurate anti-aircraft fire. Sgt. Briere stayed in his position as nose gunner and thus enabled the bombardier to drop his bombs on the target and deal the enemy a crucial blow to its means of waging war. It is estimated that this raid resulted in destroying 70 percent of the refinery which was supplying the enemy with 85 percent of its aviation gasoline. The intrepid determination and vigor displayed by Sgt Briere who, together with his clear thinking and technical knowledge of the situation, was a constant source of inspiration to the other crew members, and contributed materially to the success of this mission. His extraordinary achievement and sound judgment is in keeping with the finest traditions of the service.”
Albert Briere was born 21 Jan. 1923 in Pittsfield, Mass., the son of Amadee J Briere and Lea (Theriaque) Briere. He had 4 brothers and two sisters. He was working in a woolen mill in Putnam when he was drafted into the Army on Feb 24, 1941. He went into the Air Corps and was a gunner on a B-24 bomber, assigned to the 33rd (BS) Bomb Squadron “The Red Raiders”, of the 22nd (BG) Bombardment Group, 5th Air Force USAAF, operating in the Pacific theater.
After the war, he settled in California, married Elsie Richart, and they had one son. He is buried at Fresno Memorial Gardens, Fresno, Calif.
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