Will Davis Burgsteiner

Military
media-38622.jpeg UPL 38622 Capt. Will D. Burgsteiner of Valdosta, GA, flew with the 370th Fighter Squadron from April 1943 thru 12 December 1944, when he completed his second tour of duty with the 359th Fighter Group. Capt. Burgsteiner enlisted on 16 September 1940 in Vendalia-Lyons, GA. He flew 83 combat missions and was credited with one probable aerial victory, four ground victories, and one damaged on the ground. 359th Fighter Group collection

Photo courtesy Anthony Chardella.
Archived by Char Baldridge, Historian, 359th Fighter Group Association.
Posted by Janet Fogg, 359th Fighter Group Historian

Object Number - UPL 38622 - Capt. Will D. Burgsteiner of Valdosta, GA, flew with the 370th Fighter Squadron from April 1943 thru 12 December 1944, when he completed his second...

Assigned to 370FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF. 75 x combat missions in ETO. Credited 4 x destroyed [Ground], 1 x probable [Air]. Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).



Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (OLC), SS, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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

Units served with

Aircraft

42-7894

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Rebel
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 495th Fighter Training Group 78th Fighter Group 370th Fighter Squadron 551st Fighter Training Squadron 84th Fighter Squadron

44-14062

  • Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
  • Unit: 359th Fighter Group 368th Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Berrien County, GA, USA 24 March 1922 Son of William Kirk and Ola [Moore] Burgsteiner.

Enlisted

Vidalia, GA, USA 16 September 1940 Vidalia - Lyons - Georgia

Other

E/A Destroyed [4]

Gütersloh, Germany 11 April 1944 4 x Fw190's destroyed ground strafing Hamm airfield.

Other

Collided tree damaged A/C

Amiens, France 17 August 1944 Whilst strafing a train, hit a tree in P-51 44-14062 losing six feet of the starboard wing. Nursed aircraft back to base for a most unusual landing.

Other

Promotion

Wretham IP24, UK 11 September 1944 Promoted to Captain.

Other

E/A Probable

Saalfeld, Germany 21 November 1944 1 x Fw190 probably destroyed. Vicinity of Saalfeld.

Other

End Tour of Duty (ETD)

England, UK 12 December 1944 Ended Tour of Duty (ETD).

Died

Valdosta, GA, USA 18 April 2005

Other

Promotion

Wretham IP24, UK Promoted to 1st Lieutenant.

Based

East Wretham 12 December 1944 Assigned to 370FS, 359FG, 8AF USAAF.
Lowndes County, GA, USA

Buried

Valdosta, GA, USA Sunset Hill Cemetery Valdosta Lowndes County Georgia, USA

Other

Pilot training

57 Patriot Ave, Chicopee, MA 01022, USA Advanced flight training -Class 43. Westover field, MA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://littlefriends.co.uk/search.php?searchString=Burgsteiner&Submit=S…
https://www.fold3.com/page/85222035_will_d%20burgsteiner/details/
https://www.fold3.com/page/30352928_will_d%20burgsteiner/details/
https://www.fold3.com/image/28705488
https://www.fold3.com/image/29619914
359th Fighter Group, 1943-1945 By Thomas H. Raines
359th Fighter Group By Jack H Smith
http://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient.php?recipientid=46044
http://valdostamuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Part-1-1995.pdf
http://valdostamuseum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Part-3-1996.pdf
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=31486361

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / self, Unit History

Will Davis Burgsteiner: Gallery (5 items)

Object number: UPL 29476 - 370th Fighter Squadron pilots. (L-R) On Cowling...

Object number: UPL 29477 - 370th Fighter Squadron pilots: L-R: Rear Row: Maj...

Object number: UPL 37062 - Flying Officers, 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th...

Object number: UPL 37063 - Flying Officers, 370th Fighter Squadron, 359th...

Object number: UPL 38622 - Capt. Will D. Burgsteiner of Valdosta, GA, flew...