World War II Honoree

Fred Evertsbusch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pateros, Washington

Honored By

Lt. Col. Charles T. Borg, USA (Ret)

Relationship

Friend

JOINED IN NOVEMBER 1941 AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND ATTENDED BOMBARDMENT TRAINING AT KIRKLAND FIELD, NEW MEXICO. ASSIGNED TO 34TH SQUADRON, 17TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP AS A BOMBARDIER ABOARD B-26 MARAUDER. DEPLOYED TO ALGERIA TO SUPPORT OPERATIONS AGAINST GERMAN AND ITALIAN FORCES OCCUPYING NORTH AFRICA, SICILY AND ITALY. FLEW 40 COMBAT MISSIONS WHICH INCLUDED MONTE CASSINO, ANZIO AND MANY OTHER NOTORIOUS BATTLE AREAS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. IN PREPARATION FOR THE INVASION OF SICILY, THE SQUADRON WAS ASSIGNED THE MISSION OF NEUTRALIZING THE GERMAN AND ITALIAN AIR BASE AT DECIMOMANNU. THEY RECEIVED HEAVY FLAK AND ENEMY FIGHTER INTERDICTION, CAUSING THE FORMATION TO BREAK UP. AS LEAD BOMBARDIER WAS ABLE TO REGROUP THE FLIGHT FOR AN ALTERNATE RUN TO TARGET. THE MISSION WAS A SUCCESS AND WAS SIGNIFICANT IN THE ALLIED LANDINGS ON SICILY ON JULY 10, 1943. AFTER 40 MISSIONS, WAS REASSIGNED TO THE 2ND AIR FORCE INSTRUCTOR INDOCTRINATION UNIT AT GALVESTON, TEXAS, TRAINING NEW AIR CREWS IN THE TECHNIQUES AND SKILLS OF COMBAT FLYING. DISCHARGED IN SEPTEMBER 1945 AT COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, IN RANK OF MAJOR. RECEIVED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, AIR MEDAL WITH 8 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BATTLE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL AND BOMBARDIER BADGE.