media-47847.png UPL 47847 This photo of Dennis H. Loretz is undated, so it is not possible to know his rank at this time. He enlisted in the Regular Army on 10 July 1940, in Detroit, MI and was in the Quartermaster Corps. At some point, he was in the Army Air Corps and assigned to the 452nd Bomb Group where he flew 30 combat missions, as a Waist Gunner (first on 20 Feb 1944 and the last on 28 May). On 31 May 1944, S/Sgt Loretz reported to the 493rd Bomb Group, at Debach, and was assigned to the 863rd BS as an Airplane Armorer/Gunner. 493rd BG records do not show him flying any combat missions and do now show when he departed the command. Senior Master Sergeant Dennis Hoyle Loretz retired from the U.S. Air Force on 30 April 1971 with service during World War II, Korea and the Vietnam War. Dennis passed away on June 21, 2017. SMSGT Dennis H. Loretz

493rd BG documents in my personal collection and Dennis' obituary.