Werner William Birkelbach
MilitaryOn 01 July 1941 Werner registered for the draft. He was listed as 5' 8", and weighed 142 pounds. He had blue eyes, brown hair and had a light complexion.
On 26 August 1941 Werner entered the service as a Private in the Air Corps from Lubbock, Texas (Service Number 18 036 976). He had two years of high school education, was single, without dependents and his civilian occupation was listed as: "Semiskilled welders and flame cutters".
We have Flight Officer Birkelbach listed on the 437th TCG Special Orders #195, dated 27 December 1943. These were the orders generated at Pope Field (Fort Bragg, NC) for the first phase of movement by air and by rail of the 437th personnel to their eventual overseas deployment.
We have him listed on orders as participating on one 437th flight: Mission DETROIT on 06 June 1944; he was a Flight Officer, Service Number T-060 894. There is a mini-biography of Werner in the book: "World War II Glider Pilots", published in 1991, by the Turner Publishing Company. That bio indicates he also participated in the Market-Garden operation in Holland in September 1944 (The 'Bridge Too Far').
He was listed in Frank Guild's book: 'Journey to the Far Shore' as a 1949 member of the 84th TCS; he was a member of the 437th TCG Association, was listed on their rosters from 1972 until 2004 and attended several reunions.
In the 437th TCG Association newsletter of October 1981, Werner and his wife are identified as recently visiting Holland, France and England
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Troop Carrier
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Troop Carrier
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
27 April 1920 | ||
Died |
18 May 2003 |
Revisions
Draft Registration
NARA AAD
Findagrave
Separation Papers
Mission Orders
437th TCG Special Orders #195
437th TCG Association Reunion Books
Frank Guild’s book: ‘A Journey to the Far Shore’