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Personal info

Full name
WEBER, Wilmer Joseph
Date of birth
1 November 1920
Age
24
Place of birth
Algona, Kossuth County, Iowa
Hometown
Whittemore, Kossuth County, Iowa

Military service

Service number
39916328
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
725th Bombardment Squadron,
451st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
11 December 1944
Place of death
Near Vienna, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
D 7 17

Immediate family

Members
Simon P. Weber (father)
Anna E. (Wagner) Weber (mother)
Roland M. Weber (brother)
Vernon S. Weber (brother)
Marjorie F. Weber (sister)
Dennis Weber (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-41114
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Sassy Lassy
Destination: Vienna, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the Matzleinsdorf railroad station
MACR: 10366

More information

Sgt Wilmer J. Weber attended high school for 4 years and was a skilled welder before he enlisted in Salt Lake City, Utah on 11 June 1943.
2nd Lt John K. Lydecker:
“Shortly after we released our bombs, aircraft #44-41114 appeared to receive a direct flak hit in the bomb bay. The bomb bay then burst into flame and about five or six seconds later, the ship exploded. No parachutes were seen to emerge from the aircraft either before or after the explosion.”
Flt/O Paul E. Strippgen Jr.:
“Ship exploded almost immediately after being hit. I do not believe Sgt Weber had time to attach his chest chute.”
He is remembered at the Saint Michaels Catholic Cemetery in Whitemore, Kossuth County, Iowa.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Mike Wanda Family Tree / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Robbie Decker / Doug Pedersen, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Dec.44.html

Photo source: www.ancestry.com – Mike Stoner, www.findagrave.com – Robbie Decker, Jerry Yocum, Historian, Algona POW Museum, Algona, IA