Wilbur Dale Stites

Military
media-23247.jpeg UPL 23247 453rd Bomb Group sergeants Wilbur Stites and Winford Pace with an unknown girlfriend.

Object Number - UPL 23247 - 453rd Bomb Group sergeants Wilbur Stites and Winford Pace with an unknown girlfriend.

Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF. On 17-Oct-44 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD. 35 x combat missions. ETD



Awards: WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Colonel Larry Thomas of the 453rd Bomb Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Col Larry Thomas 453BG.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19128611 / O-699686
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Lucky Penny
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

La Rose, IL 13 December 1922 Son of Leslie and Ethel M [Kohl] Stites.

Enlisted

Peoria, IL 3 October 1942 Peoria, Illinois

Other

Baled out RTD

Spa, Belgium 17 October 1944 On 17 Oct 1944 on mission to Cologne in B-24 42-95312, AC received flak damage causing fuel to leak. After 3 engines quit crew baled out inside friendly lines and all returned to duty RTD.

Died

Black Earth, WI 1 March 2009

Buried

Highland Memory Gardens Cottage Grove, Dane County, WI 5 March 2009 Highland Memory Gardens Cottage Grove, Dane County, WI

Based

Old Buckenham Assigned to 734BS, 453BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Page 418 in the book 2ND AIR DIVISION by Turner Publishing Company, 1998 edition (D790.A2S45)

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The Liberator Men of Old Buc

Wilbur Dale Stites: Gallery (2 items)