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World War II Honoree

Killed in World War II

Walter F. Wegiel

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Indian Orchard, Massachusetts

Honored By

Charles B. Church III

Branch Seal
Activity During WWII

ENTERED THE SERVICE FROM INDIAN ORCHARD, MASSACHUSETTS IN 1942 AND SERVED AS A SECOND LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE. BASIC TRAINING IN ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY AND PRE-FLIGHT TRAINING IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. TRAINED AS BOMBARDIER/NAVIGATOR FOR B-17 AND B-24 BOMBER AIRCRAFT. BASED IN TIBENHAM, ENGLAND WITH THE 8TH ARMY AIR FORCE, 701ST BOMBER SQUADRON, 445TH BOMBER GROUP (HEAVY). ASSIGNED AS BOMBARDIER/NAVIGATOR FLYING B-24 BOMBERS. SERVED UNTIL MARCH 24, 1945, WHEN HIS B-24 BOMBER WAS SHOT DOWN OVER MAASTRICHT, BELGIUM IN VERY DANGEROUS, LOW ALTITUDE BOMBING OPERATIONS. HE WAS BURIED IN MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS. EARNED THE PURPLE HEART, THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL, THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND THE AIR MEDAL WITH TWO OAK LEAF CLUSTERS.