WaA257 Posted August 8, 2010 Share #1 Posted August 8, 2010 Since I discovered this forum and have interacted with several members, it has given me the itch to go through some of my items and attempt to research them with what I have learned on this forum. This "crash bracelet" was rescued from a pawn shop by me years ago where its fate was to be smelted for silver weight. I bought it to save it and also because it was a neat WW2 item to have. It is engraved with a USAAF wing and G. Stanley Wheeler on the reverse it is engraved 'Happy Landing Honey" I have found out that it belonged to 2 Lt. George Stanley Wheeler of the 331st Bomb Sq., 94th Bomb Group a B-17 crewman who was KIA over France on 07Oct44. The name of his B-17 was "The Spirit Of Valley Forge". He is buried in the American Cemetary in St. Avold, France. Forum member Vertol assisted me by having a friend on a French forum named Jeremy respond to St. Avold and obtain pictures for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjohns Posted August 8, 2010 Share #2 Posted August 8, 2010 That is great! I wonder if any of mine have a story??How did you find that info? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WaA257 Posted August 8, 2010 Author Share #3 Posted August 8, 2010 CJ, I was running names with serial numbers on some items in my collection. This one came back as a hit on the American Battlefield Monuments Commission website much to my surprise and showed him buried in the cemetery in France. Today I was checking some more and found out even more on a site I just discovered, the Army Air Forces forum. Lt. Wheeler was the pilot of the aircraft and it was his first mission. His group was on a mission to Bohlen, Germany. 12 minutes before the IP, his group was jumped by approximately 50-60 German fighter aircraft. Only the radioman and tail gunner survived. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjohns Posted August 8, 2010 Share #4 Posted August 8, 2010 Just checked all mine and good news,no hits!Looks as if they might have made it home. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomV Posted August 8, 2010 Share #5 Posted August 8, 2010 Thanks for saving this great piece of history. You are doing good by saving this item, which once belonged to a person who sacrificed all. I always have an extra interest in ID´d objects and their history especially KIA stuff. Thanks, Tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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