Memorial

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At the age of seventeen, he graduated from Southwest High School, where he had been very active in track. His family moved to Grosse Pointe, Michigan, at that time, and Wayne attended the University of Detroit for one year. He then entered West Point in 1938. After graduating from the Academy in May 1942, he entered the Air Corps and was stationed at Pine Bluff, Arkansas, for his elementary training. He received his basic training at Randolph Field and was then transferred to Foster Field, Texas. It was there on 13 December 1942 that he received his wings. In January 1943, Wayne was made a First Lieutenant while he was stationed at Moore Field, Mission, Texas, for specialized training. At Westover Field, Massachusetts, he was assigned to the 359th Fighter Group. Subsequently, he was made a flight leader in the 368th Fighter Squadron. During the time that the squadron was being formed and trained, Wayne was stationed at Grenier Field, New Hampshire; Republic Field, New York; and again at Westover Field, Massachusetts. In August of 1943, he was promoted to Captain.

Statement of 1st Lt Thomas S. Lane:
"On June 10th at approximately 1430, Capt Bolefahr, Lt Lewis and myself were in red flight, escorting two P.R.U ships, on a low altitude photo run, over a target on the north side of Antwerp. As we approached the target, they started firing at us with many A.A. guns. Lt Lewis and myself broke to the right, and Capt Bolefahr must have gone over the target. As I came around the target, I thought I saw a plane crash, then I called Capt Bolefahr on the radio, but got no answer. I circled over the crash, and it was scattered all over a field, with parts of it on fire. It appeared that the plane had nosed into the ground. Lt Lewis and I joined yellow flight and came home."

The plane was shot down by railway anti-aircraft artillery and crashed in flames on the homebound flight.

Capt Bolefahr was initially buried unidentified at the cemetery of Deurne-Antwerp and recovered there as Unknown X-112 on 27 May 1945. His remains were reburied in a temporary grave at Ardennes Cemetery on 28 May 1945. He was disinterred on 2 November 1948 and was identified by comparison of dental records. He was given his final resting place at Ardennes on 12 April 1950.