World War II Honoree

Vincent S. Werner

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Great Falls, Montana

Honored By

Vincent & June Werner

2ND LIEUTENANT COMMISSIONED AS A PILOT, NAVIGATOR OR BOMBARDIER. PASSED EXAMS IN MARCH, 1942 AND CALLED TO ACTIVE DUTY IN OCTOBER, 1942 AT THE SAN ANTONIO AVIATION CADET CENTER. AFTER BASIC TRAINING REPORTED TO PRIMARY FLIGHT TRAINING AT BALLINGER, TEXAS IN THE CLASS OF 43-H. REASSIGNED TO TRAIN AS A NAVIGATOR. ON JANUARY 1, 1944 JOINED THE B-17 BOMB CREW AT RAPID CITY, SOUTH DAKOTA IN THE 483RD BOMB GROUP. SENT TO FLORIDA FOR MORE ADVANCED TRAINING AND THEN TO TUNIS. AFTER A WEEK RECEIVED ORDERS TO JOIN THE 2ND BOMB GROUP AT AMENDOLA, EAST OF FOGGIA, ITALY. THE 2ND BOMB GROUP SUSTAINED LOSSES OF 19 AIRCRAFT AND CREWS DURING COMBAT MISSIONS IN LATE FEBRUARY. RETURNED TO THE U.S. IN AUGUST, 1944 AND HAD A BRIEF ASSIGNMENT AS A RECRUITER IN BUTTE, MONTANA, THEN SENT TO ELLINGTON NAVIGATION SCHOOL IN HOUSTON. BECAME AN INSTRUCTOR AT SAN MARCOS TEXAS NAVIGATION SCHOOL. FOLLOWING V-J DAY DISCHARGED AND RETURNED TO CIVILIAN LIFE.