Wayne Norbury Bolefahr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-25045.jpeg UPL 25045 Capt Lt Wayne N Bolefahr 368FS, 359FG, 8AF.

Object Number - UPL 25045 - Capt Lt Wayne N Bolefahr 368FS, 359FG, 8AF.

Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 370FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. 61 x missions, credited 2 x kills, 1 x damaged. Transferred to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF.



Escorting PR aircraft to Antwerp, hit by flak and crashed near Wildert in P-51B 43-24786 Killed in Action (KIA). 10-Jun-44. MACR 5593.



DSC and PH awarded posthumously: - Citation:

"For extreme gallantry in action at known risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.



"On 10 June 1944, Captain Bolefahr was assigned to lead the second section of a P-51 Fighter Squadron supporting four Photo Reconnaissance Unit Aircraft, ordered to secure photographs of Important military installations at Antwerp, Belgium. Owing to the nature of the targets it was necessary that the photographs be taken from an extremely low altitude. Several previous attempts to secure pictures there had resulted in heavy casualties, due to the very intense and accurate light calibre flak in the area. The briefed plan of the mission was to cross the enemy coast at Breskins at 1,500 feet, then hit the deck and proceed to the vicinity of Antwerp, using a canal as a landmark to the target area. Light calibre flak positions, especially effective against low-flying aircraft, were known to exist all along the course from landfall Inward, and to be heavily concentrated in the target area. This Intense flak made it difficult for the P.R.U. aircraft to find the target, and a period of approximately twenty minutes of flying at tree-top and power-line level was spent in the area before the target, a marshalling yard on the Antwerp-Roosendaal railway, was located. With the whole section flying close escort and blanketing the flak positions with a steady stream of fire, the P.R.U. aircraft made several runs on the target, but each approach was driven off by the concentrated ground defenses. Captain Bolefahr sensed at once that as long as the many guns were directing their fire at the reconnaissance planes they would not be able to maneuver Into a position favorable for taking the photos. With utter disregard for his own personal safety, and in full knowledge of the fact that his chances of escaping the resultant fire were negligible, he pulled up to a height of 100 feet, flying directly towards the marshalling yard's main gun positions. Captain Bolefahr's tactic of making himself the most obvious target in the area succeeded in diverting the fire from the P.R.U. planes to his own, and the former were consequently able to accomplish their mission. But by so doing he made his aircraft an easy target and it received many vital hits. The plane crashed through a row of trees, disintegrating as it struck the ground, Captain Bolefahr doubtless perishing in the wreckage. The coolness and daring with which Captain Bolefahr executed this feat, and his outstanding gallantry in the face of overwhelming odds, were an inspiration to his fellow flyers. His action reflects the greatest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States."



Awards: DSC, DFC (OLC), AM (10 OLC), PH.

Connections

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Units served with

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron 370th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 356th Fighter Group 359th Fighter Group 360th Fighter Squadron 368th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Nicknames: The Beachcomber
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Enlisted

Eureka, KS 67045, USA 7 February 1920 Eureka, Kansas.

Born

Eureka, KS 7 February 1920 Son of James Lambert and Junee Marie [Norbury] Hess.

Other

Transferred

14 January 1944 - 22 January 1944 Transferred to 370FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Transferred

22 January 1944 - 10 June 1944 Transferred to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

2910 Wildert, Belgium 10 June 1944 Escorting PR aircraft to Antwerp, hit by flak and crashed near Wildert in P-51B 43-24786 Killed in Action (KIA). 10-Jun-44. MACR 5593.

Based

14 January 1944 Assigned to 368FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF.
Grosse Pointe, MI, USA

Buried

Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Re-Interred Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial Liege, Belgium Plot A Row 34 Grave 25

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5593

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list

Wayne Norbury Bolefahr: Gallery (1 items)