Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
BREUNIG, Wilbur Wayne - Date of
birth
11 April 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Durand, Pepin County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Denver County, Colorado
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-726117 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
368th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
17 April 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, north of Bremen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Wilbur C. Breunig (father)
Pearl H. Breunig (mother)
Walter Breunig (brother)
Robert L. Breunig (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3034 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Bodacious Critter
Destination: Bremen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Focke Wulf aviation industry plant
MACR: 15518
More information
1st Lt. Wilbur W. Breunig attended college and was a draftsman.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States as an aviation cadet on 16 January 1942.
The aircraft is believed to have turned back toward the enemy coast at 54 deg 10 min N - 06 deg 40 min E, and is believed to have crashed into the sea.
The entire crew of 10 was killed. Nine are remembered on the Walls of the Missing at Margraten, one, William R. Payne, is remembered on the Walls of the Missing at Cambridge.
Lt Breunig is also remembered at the Mount Olivet Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County, Colorado.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com - WWII Draft Cards,www.ancestry.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, wmpr2, Peter Schouteten, East (Denver) High School, 1936