World War II Honoree

Edward J. Wenning

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Philothea, Ohio

Honored By

Carl J. Wenning

Relationship

Son

RADAR MECHANIC, NAVIGATION 853, 8TH AIR FORCE, ATTACHED TO THE 398TH HEAVY BOMBARDMENT GROUP FLYING THE B-17G BOMBER. INDUCTED OCTOBER 28, 1942 AT FORT BENJAMIN HARRISON, INDIANA. ARRIVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATERS OF OPERATION ON APRIL 21, 1944. LENGTH OF FOREIGN SERVICE; 1 YEAR, 2 MONTHS. LENGTH OF CONTINENTAL SERVICE; 1 YEAR, 8 MONTHS, 28 DAYS. LENGTH OF ENLISTMENT; 2 YEARS, 11 MONTHS, 29 DAYS. DISCHARGED OCTOBER 26, 1945. AWARDS AND MEDALS: EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER MEDAL WITH 1 BRONZE STAR AND 1 SILVER STAR, AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL. THE 398TH BOMB GROUP WAS ACTIVATED ON MARCH 11, 1943 AT EPHRATA ARMY AIR BASE, WASHINGTON. HE WENT TO BLYTHE ARMY AIR FORCE BASE, CALIFORNIA, THEN MOVED TO GEIGER FIELD, WASHINGTON ON APRIL 20, 1943 TO COMPLETE TRAINING. ON JUNE 20, 1943, HE MOVED TO RAPID CITY ARMY AIR BASE, SOUTH DAKOTA TO TAKE UP REPLACEMNT TRAINING UNIT DUTIES. TRAINED 326 B-17 CREWS FROM AUGUST TO DECEMBER 1943. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NEW YEAR, REVERTED TO TRAINING FOR COMBAT. BEGAN MOVEMENT OVERSEAS ON APRIL 4, 1943. HE MOVED WITH THE UNIT TO CAMP MYLES STANDISH, MASSACHUSETTS APRIL 7-12, 1943. HE EMBARKED ON THE USS WAKEFIELD (AP-21). SAILED TO BOSTON ON APRIL 13 AND ARRIVED IN LIVERPOOL ON APRIL 21, 1944 AT NORTHAMPSTEAD, ENGLAND. HIS FIRST MISSION WAS NOVEMBER 6, 1944. LAST MISSION; APRIL 25, 1945. RE-DEPOLOYED TO THE U.S. IN MAY 1945. WENT TO GREENOCK, JUNE 22, 1945 AND SAILED ON THE QUEEN ELIZABETH. ARRIVED IN NEW YORK ON JUNE 29, 1945. AFTER 30 DAYS OF RECLAMATION AND REPAIR, HE ASSEMBLED AT DREW FIELD, FLORIDA WHERE HE AND THE GROUP WERE INACTIVATED ON SETPEMBER 1, 1945.