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Francis Wiemerslage volunteered for the Army of the United States in Chicago, Illinois on 10 November 1942.

Approximately 15 to 20 enemy aircraft made attacks from behind on the low squadron. Aircraft 43-38148 was hit by enemy aircraft cannon fire and dove down into the clouds, out of control. Some reports indicate that the aircraft was on fire as it went into the clouds.

Statement from 2nd Lt Edward L.C. Batz, Co-Pilot, one of the surviving crew members:
"We were at 25,000 feet on our way to the target between Berlin and Leipzig, Germany, when we were attacked by enemy fighters. There were several fires on the ship and the controls were evidently shot out, because the ship would not respond. The bailout order was given both by bell and by inter-phone. I went down to the nose escape hatch, finding the engineer sitting beside it because it was jammed. I reached over to pull the emergency release handle when the ship rolled over and blew up. The explosion knocked me unconscious. When I recovered, I was falling free, I waited and pulled my chute. I was taken prisoner two hours later."

Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, seven men were killed.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced on 31 August 2021 that Sgt. Francis W. Wiemerslage was accounted for on 24 August 2021.

The American Graves Registration Command (AGRC) was charged with recovering the remains of fallen service members in the European Theater following the war. During a series of investigations of the Züllsdorf area between 1947 and 1949, the remains of all of the airmen who died in the B-17 crash, except for Wiemerslage, were found and identified. After 1950, worsening diplomatic relations with the Soviet Union, who controlled this part of Germany at the time, prevented the AGRC from investigating further. In November 1953, two German citizens conducted another search of the area on behalf of the AGRC, finding some bones, including the jaw with some teeth, and part of a wallet. However, it does not appear any further evidence was found. Wiermerslage’s records from the time indicate the dental record was favorable and the wallet bore the initials “F.W.” In March 1954, the remains were interred, to be held until the recovery of additional remains could be completed.

In June 2019, DPAA contracted Western Carolina University to excavate several possible locations around the area of Züllsdorf where the remains and wallet were found in the 1950s. Possible osseous material and possible material evidence was found and initially transferred to the Brandenburg Institute for Forensic Medicine before being sent to the DPAA Laboratory at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, for scientific analysis.

To identify Wiemerslage’s remains, scientists from DPAA used anthropological analysis, as well as circumstantial and material evidence. Additionally, scientists from the Armed Forces Medical Examiner System used mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), Y chromosome DNA (Y-STR), and autosomal DNA (auSTR) analysis.

A rosette was placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

Wiemerslage was buried in his hometown on 23 October 2021.