Wayne F Ehlers

Military

On his 24th mission on 13 September in 1944 Ehler's plane was hit by flak, which knocked out 2 engines, and a 3rd was leaking oil.



The crew dropped their bombs and jettisoned everything out of plane to try and stay aloft. Ehler's was hit by shrapnel that flew through his oxygen mask, cut his microphone line and smashed into his chin.



They headed for Belgium to try and crash land. The pilot and co-pilot were strapped in up front while the rest of the crew was crouched down in the radio area at the back of the plane. They landed wheels-up in Ciney, Belgium. After tearing through two fences and several cow pastures, the plane finally came to rest on top of a 3rd fence.



The crew found out when they got down there, the Germans had left 5 days before. They made their way to an Army hospital where their wounds were treated, then hitchhiked to Paris on a weapons carrier.



Elhers completed 30 missions and returned to the US to become a navigation instuctor. He retired as a Lt. Col.



60 years later he was finally awarded the Purple Heart for that injury to his chin.



Air Medal w/Oak Leaf Clusters; Purple Heart after 60 years

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20757806 / T-1525 / O-886936
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot, Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: Norwegian
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O 768081
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Operations Officer, Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Everybody's Baby
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 13 September 1944
  • Official Description:

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

379th Bombardment Group (H) Anthology, 1942-45; p. 160./Newspaper article stored in 379th Folder in Library Ref. Drawer / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia