Thomas E Wehr

Military
media-7437.jpeg UPL 7437 Frederick Mueller Crew
445th BG - 700th BS

Standing Left to Right: Ben Weiss (WG), Elvis J. Brassfield (NG), Staton Wallace (BTG), William Huff (FE), Max Loflin (TG), Tommy Wehr (R/O)

Kneeling Left to Right: Robert Pipher (N), William Craggs (CP), Frederick Mueller (P), Erwin Koppel (B)

Photo taken at Carlsbad Caverns, NM in July 1943

Crew was formed at Hobbs Army Air Field near Hobbs, NM.

NARA Records.

Object Number - UPL 7437 - Frederick Mueller Crew 445th BG - 700th BS Standing Left to Right: Ben Weiss (WG), Elvis J. Brassfield (NG), Staton Wallace (BTG), William Huff...

After 4 years of High School, Thomas Wehr enlisted in April 1943. He trained as a radio operator/aerial gunner in the Army Air Forces and was sent overseas in England. Assigned to the 445th Bomb Group/700th Bomb Squadron, he flew his first mission, to Koblenz, Germany on 22 September 1944 with Pilot Frederick E. Mueller's crew. Their B-24 lost an engine over the target on that operation and dropped out of formation. 2 fighters escorted the Liberator back over occupied territory. Another fighter -running low on fuel on return to base - went to closest base in England and fired Very pistol to indicate wounded on board. The B-24 did not have wounded on board, but were very low on fuel. A B-17 base refused permission to land, but the pilot landed anyway while at the same time a B-17 took off over them. The Liberator had only one engine running at the end of runway. Thomas Wehr's last mission, his 35th, was to Magdeburg, Germany in the first half of February 1945.

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17119105
  • Highest Rank: Technician Third Grade
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13097961
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 700th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37726448
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Missions

A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29155) nicknamed "Picadilly Commando" of the 446th Bomb Group. First handwritten caption on reverse: '446BG B/24 leaving Ruhr on its way home 22 April 1944.' Second handwritten caption on reverse: '22/4/44, 21,000 Ft. Hamm, smoke screen in distance.'
  • Date: 22 April 1944

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Lehighton, Pennsylvania 30 April 1924 the son of Edgar C. and Lucretta A. (Rex) Wehr

Enlisted

Allentown, Pennsylvania, United States 6 April 1943

Died

Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States 28 May 2016
Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States

Buried

St. John's Cemetery, Lehighton, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, United States

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
Roger Freeman's Mighty Eighth War Diary
www.445bg.com

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Birsic, SO#265 12 Oct 44 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Thomas E Wehr: Gallery (2 items)