World War II Honoree

Nicholas J. Wolfe

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cleveland, Ohio

Honored By

James Hanculak

Relationship

Nephew

1942-1945. EUROPEAN THEATER. STAFF SERGEANT, TAIL GUNNER, B-17 AIRCRAFT. 15TH ARMY AIR FORCE, 97TH BOMB GROUP, 340TH SQUADRON. FLEW 50 COMBAT MISSIONS. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART, 3 AIR MEDALS, 2 DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATIONS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 8 BATTLE STARS, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, U.S. ARMY AERIAL GUNNER WINGS AND THE COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST BADGE. SHOT DOWN ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1944 (COMBAT MISSION 33) BY GERMAN ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY GROUND FIRE. MISSING IN ACTION IN YUGOSLAVIA FOR OVER 30 DAYS. RESCUED BY ALLIED PARTISANS. PARTICIPATED IN PARTISAN GROUND OPERATIONS UNTIL RETURNED TO U.S. FORCES IN NOVEMBER 1944. RETURNED TO COMBAT FLYING STATUS AND COMPLETED 50 MISSIONS. WAS ON THE FIRST SHUTTLE MISSION TO RUSSIA, JUNE 1944. FLEW 4 BOMBING MISSIONS OVER THE PLOESTI OIL REFINERIES, ROMANIA. ROTATED BACK FOR U.S. DUTY ON FEBRUARY 24, 1945. DISCHARGED ON SEPTEMBER 7, 1945. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART MEDAL ON MARCH 9, 2005 FOR INJURIES SUSTAINED ON SEPTEMBER 20, 1944 AFTER BEING SHOT DOWN OVER ENEMY TERRITORY ON A BOMBING MISSION TO BUDAPEST, HUNGARY.