Serviceman

Wilbur E. Wanstrom

815thpilot

Play his story on the map built from his record

Hometown: PietTe, ND; Pierre and Almont, ND
In the book: Heroes of the 483rd, p. 246, 256
Sources: heroes-book

Crews

William P. Vandendries Crew · 815th
Wilbur E. Wanstrom Crew, pilot · 815th

Missions placed on him

mission 1, 12 April 1944 · Split · Listed with the William P. Vandendries crew, which flew it per its history (p. 246); whether he was aboard that day is not recorded
mission 11, 30 April 1944 · Milan · Listed with the William P. Vandendries crew, which flew it per its history (p. 246); whether he was aboard that day is not recorded
mission 35, 23 June 1944 · Ploesti · Listed with the William P. Vandendries crew, which flew it per its history (p. 246); whether he was aboard that day is not recorded
mission 51, 18 July 1944 · Memmingen · Listed with the Wilbur E. Wanstrom crew, which flew it per its history (p. 256); whether he was aboard that day is not recorded

A report lists him aboard, or his crew's history in Heroes of the 483rd dates the mission; the book is cited by page and not reproduced. The rest of his squadron's missions in his window are not placed on him by any document.

Statements, mentions and histories

Eyewitness statement, page 21 · 18 July 1944

8. uninjured. s/sgt. Theodore L. Solomon, ball turret gunner- - bailed out uninjured.
2nd Lit. Wilbur E. Wanstrom, co-pilot, didn't leave airoraft.
T/Sgt. Rebert K. Bell, radio operater- #
"
"
"
"
"
s/Sgt. Norman J. Fahrmann, asst. engineer
"
"
s/sgt. william H. Barlow Jr., armorer gunner
"
"
"
s/ Sgt. Robert J. Allard, armorer gunner
6.
Information given on enclosed forms is based upon my experiences on that day
and what information I obtained from Lt. Wojoieohowski several weeks later.
I was flying the position of bombardier and during the ensuing attaok by
enemy airoraft I was manning the chin turret guns. During this battle I was
struck by fire from an enemy fighter which resulted in the loss of my left
leg above the kmoe. While attempting to leave the airoraft which was in
flames, I noted that Lt. Wejciechowski was- bailed out wounded. At that moment
the airoraft went down out of control forcing me back into the nose where I
passes out in attempting to parachute to safety. While I was unconscious,
the aircraft exploded and I was blown out of the aircraft. I regained CON-
sciouness falling through the air and parachuted the rest of the way. I therfore
assume that any crew mumbers that were mot able to parachute were killed when
the airoraft exploded.

National Archives, MACR 6980, page 21 · Machine-read from microfilm, uncorrected.

1 more statement from MACR 6980 are on the loss record.

Know something about him?

If this record is wrong or missing something, a middle name, the right squadron, who is who in a photograph, what he said about a day, tell us. Nothing you send is shown without your say-so.