World War II Honoree

Merton H. Wilch

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Tecumseh, Kansas

Honored By

Veryl Wilch

Relationship

Brother

ENTERED MILITARY SERVICE ON MARCH 7, 1943 AT FORT LEAVENWORTH, KANSAS. BASIC TRAINING AT MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA FROM MARCH 22 TO APRIL 19, 1943. ASSIGNED TO THE ARMY AIR CORPS. AIRPLANE MECHANICS TRAINING AT SEYMOUR-JOHNSON FIELD AT GOLDSBORO, NORTH CAROLINA FROM APRIL 20 TO OCTOBER 9, 1943. GUNNERY TRAINING AT TYNDALL FIELD IN PANAMA CITY, FLORIDA FROM OCTOBER 11 TO DECEMBER 10, 1943. BOMBER CREW TRAINING AT DALHART, TEXAS FROM FEBRUARY 8 TO MAY 1944. ASSIGNED THE DUTY AS UPPER TURRET GUNNER AND ENGINEER ON A B-17 BOMBER. ON MAY 15, 1944, SAILED BY SHIP FROM BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS TO LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND. ASSIGNED TO THE 100TH BOMB GROUP, 418TH SQUADRON AT THORPE-ABBOTTS FIELD NEAR DISS, ENGLAND. 32 MISSIONS OVER GERMANY, STARTING 9 DAYS AFTER D-DAY (JUNE 15, 1944). LAST MISSION WAS SEPTEMBER 12, 1944. ATTAINED THE RANK OF TECHNICAL SERGEANT. RETURNED TO THE U.S. AND ASSIGNED AS AN INSTRUCTOR IN AIRCRAFT ENGINES AT AMARILLO, TEXAS ON JANUARY 2, 1945. RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL, 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS. DISCHARGED ON OCTOBER 17, 1945.