Verner Alan Wertsch
Militaryhttp://eastangliamemorials.blogspot.co.uk/
Photo taken 21 August 2013, Gary Atkins
Alan Wertsch served as a pilot with the 333rd Bomb Squadron of the 94th Bomb Group, flying missions out of Bury St Edmunds, England. His crew is commemorated on a plaque, titled "33 Raids to Hell and Back" at the Rougham Control Tower Museum.
Assigned to 410BS, 94BG, 8AF USAAF. Transferred to 333BS, 94BG, 8AF USAAF as lead crew.
Flew 33 combat missions from 9 April to 1 September 1944. ETD
Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17097430 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 457th Bomb Group 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16129406
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron 410th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18202841
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Aerial Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron 410th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39690727
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Lucky Rebel/Eagle's Wrath
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Erie Ferry, Kac's Flak Shack, Green Hornets
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 410th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Leading Lady
- Unit: 94th Bomb Group 333rd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Rougham
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Tazewell County, IL, USA | 31 December 1918 | Son of Verner Alphonso and Cora Elsie [Brooks] Wertsch. |
Enlisted |
1004 Samuelson Rd, Rockford, IL 61109, USA | 19 January 1942 | At Camp Grant |
Based |
Bury St Edmunds | 30 April 1944 | Transferred to 333BS, 94BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Died |
Morton, IL | 21 November 2005 | |
Buried |
Prairie Rest Cemetery, Delavan, IL | 24 November 2005 | Prairie Rest Cemetery Delavan, Tazewell County, IL |
Tazewell County, IL, USA | |||
Other Married Helen Bettisworth (1917-2013) |
West Point, NY, USA | Married Helen Louise Bettisworth (1917-2013) | |
Based |
Bury St Edmunds | 30 April 1944 | Assigned to 410BS, 94BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
NARA enlistment record: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf…
Findagrave record: https://findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi/pages.suddenlink.net/fg.cgi?page=…
Helen Wertsch's obituary: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/pjstar/obituary.aspx?n=helen-wertsch&p…;
Rougham Control Tower memorial plaques
Facebook: 94th Bomb Group magazine, and 94th Bomb Group public group