Robert Francis Wernersbach
MilitaryBombardier, Hess crew. 381st BG, 535th BS. October - December 1943. Shot down 1 December 1943 in B-17 #42-3540 'Bacta-th'-Sac'. Mission #46 to Solinger, Germany. EE report 665. Evaded and returned to Allied control in May 1944.
Garden City, NY
Air Medal
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33327732
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13130919
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32426578
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-794661
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38219887
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lucifer Jr III, Bacta-Th-Sac
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 December 1943
- Date: 26 November 1943
- Date: 7 November 1943
- Date: 5 November 1943
![An Illustration of the Wilhelmshaven raid, 3 November 1943. Image stamped on reverse: '10 Nov 1943.' [stamp], '292478.'[Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'THE BIGGEST EVER DAY RAID: By US Fortresses and Liberators on Wilhelmshaven- escorted all the way by fighters. Special Sphere drawings. THE SCENE OVER WILHELMSHAVEN JUST AS OUT BOMBERS WERE LEAVING THE TARGET ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMVER 3RD. AFTER THE BIGGEST DAYLIGHT RAID EVER CARRIED OUT OVER GERMANY. IN THE TOP RIGHT HAND OF THIS DRAWING, LIGHTNING](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-418517.jpg.webp?itok=KjJP-yi2)
- Date: 3 November 1943
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
New York City, New York | 12 August 1920 | |
|
Died |
13 July 2002 | ||
|
Buried |
Holy Rood Cemetery, Westbury, New York | ||
|
Other Evaded |
Germany | 1 December 1943 | EE Report 665 |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1660 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / self, family, MACR 1660,
href="www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx">www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/Roster.aspx>