World War II Honoree

Glenn R. A. Bergquist

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Honored By

Johanna Bergquist Moore & Chris Bergquist Fulmer

Relationship

Nieces

FROM MACDILL ARMY AIRFIELD, SENT WITH HIS FULLY LOADED B-24 BOMBER CREW, FLYING OVERSEAS TO NEW ASSIGNMENT AT ENGLAND'S AIRFIELD, RAF TIBENHAM. WITH U.S. 8TH AIR FORCES, ENTERED COMBAT ASSIGNMENTS WITH THE 445TH BOMB GROUP (HEAVY), 701ST BOMBING SQUADRON AS LEAD RADIO OPERATOR. BEGAN AIR OPERATIONS, DECEMBER 13, 1943 ATTACKING U-BOAT INSTALLATIONS AT KIEL (NORTH OF HAMBURG). FLEW MISSIONS THAT BOMBED LUTZENDORF'S SYNTHETIC OIL PLANTS AND PARTICIPATED IN MISSIONS TO EHMEN AND WAR FACTORIES AT DUNEBERG. ENDURED MANY HOURS ALOFT IN CAMPAIGNS AGAINST GERMAN AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIAL FACILITIES DURING 'BIG WEEK' AIR CAMPAIGN; FEBRUARY 19 TO 25, 1944. HIS CREW HELPED PREPARE D-DAY JUNE 6, BOMBING AIRFIELDS, 'V' WEAPONS SITES AND SOFTENED D-DAY SHORE INSTALLATIONS. CONTINUED TO BOMB GERMAN DEFENSES THAT INCLUDED OPERATION COBRA INTO LATE SUMMER, 1944. KILLED IN ACTION, SEPTEMBER 27, 1944 AS HIS LIBERATOR BOMBER WENT DOWN IN HILLY LANDSCAPE OF WALDHESSEN AREA OF HERSFELD, GERMANY. HIS MISSION, BECAUSE OF NAVIGATION MISS, OVERLOOKED ITS PRIMARY TARGET AT KASSEL GERMANY AND HIS 445TH BOMB GROUP SUFFERED THE HEAVIEST LOSSES IN THE AIR CAMPAIGN FOR ONE SINGLE DAY. OUT OF THE 35 LIBERATOR BOMBERS SENT OUT, ONLY 4 RETURNED TO ROYAL AIR FORCE FIELD, TIBENHAM. DECORATIONS: AIR MEDAL WITH OAK LEAF CLUSTER, PURPLE HEART (POSTHUMOUS), TWO PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATIONS AND RADIO AND GUNNERY AERIAL BADGES. FOREIGN AWARDS: FRENCH CROIX DE GUERRE WITH PALM. SERIAL NUMBER: 18 120232.