World War II Honoree

Regis Daniel Weinfurther

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Linda Weinfurther Fink

Relationship

Daughter

He served with the 785th Bombardment Squadron of the 466th Bombardment Group from Sep 26, 1939 - Sep 25, 1945. Battles and campaigns listed on discharge are GO 3340 WD 45, Air Offensive Europe, Rhineland, Central Europe, Ardennes. Decorations and Citations: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Silver Star Medal with 1 Oak Leaf Cluster, Distinguished Unit Badge with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, European African Middle Eastern Service Medal with 4 Bronze Stars. Silver Star was awarded In Nov, 1942 by Lt. General George C. Kenney "for gallantry in action over Vunakanau Airdrome, Rabaul, New Britain. He was a lower turret gunner in a B-17E aircraft on a bombing mission over enemy occupied territory." The letter informed his parents: "The formation was attached by twenty Japanese Zero fighter planes, seven of which were shot down in a running air battle, which lasted for twenty-five minutes. The determination and courage of your son in the face of heavy cannon and machine gun fire aided considerably in defeating the enemy in this encounter."