Wayne Gayle Schomburg
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Born Nebraska, USA 1920, Died March 31, 1944 at Ridgewell England.
I am Capt. Schomburg's cousin.
Scott Sunderman
Object Number - UPL 44700 - Capt. Wayne Schomburg, US Army Air Corps, 8th Air Force, 381st BG, 534th Sq. Born Nebraska, USA 1920, Died March 31, 1944 at Ridgewell England.
Pilot, Schomburg crew. 381st BG, 534th BS.
Crashed on landing after a local test flight on 31 Mar 1944 in B-17F #42-29751 'Stuff'. Killed in Action (KIA).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34036047
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner; Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-676226
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-796585
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31128495
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group 22nd Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39102231
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Miss Abortion, Stuff
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Nance County, NE, USA | 9 October 1920 | |
|
Died |
Halstead CO9, UK | 31 March 1944 | |
|
Buried |
Fullerton, NE 68638, USA | ||
|
Enlisted |
Revisions
OBITUARY
Wayne Gayle Schomburg was born seven miles east of Wolbach October 9, 1920 and was killed during a flight over England while performing his duties as operations officer of his squadron March 31, 1944 at the age 23 years, 4 months, 22 days.
He was baptized in the Timber Creek Lutheran church and confirmed in the Wolbach Lutheran church. In 1935 he with his parents moved to the vicinity of Cushing where he graduated from Cushing High School in 1938. The fall of 1938 and the spring of 1939 he attended Grand Island Business College.
For two tears he worked for the Western Land Roller Co. in Hastings, Nebraska.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in December 1941 and after receiving his training he was sent to England, piloting a B-17 Flying Fortress. He had received the rank of Lieutenant and was squadron commander and had been given the choice of a furlough or promotion. By request of his commanding officer he rejected the furlough and in a few days would have been promoted to Captain.
Words cannot express the shock which was felt by his parents and community when word was received of his untimely death.
Note
January 15,1944 Lt Schomburg was promoted to Squadron Operations Officer. I have not found evidence he was promoted to Squadron Commander as mentioned in the obituary above. He was posthumously promoted to Captain.
Provided by Scott Sunderman, Cousin of Capt. Schomburg.
381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999, Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
