Wells N Gardner
Military
media-17799.jpeg
UPL 17799
SSGT Wells Gardner
Ball Turret Gunner
458th BG - 755th BS
Ball Turret Gunner
458th BG - 755th BS
Served 16 months in World War I. Was a glider pilot befor he became a gunner. Flew 26 missions over Germany. Was twice reported Killed in Action (KIA) while flying against Japan. At age 46, was the oldest air gunner on combat duty with the 458th BG.
AM w/ 3 Oak Leaf Cluster
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 466th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 784th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Baby Shoes
- Unit: 458th Bomb Group 755th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group 856th Bomb Squadron
media-16636.pdf
(4.95 MB)
Document 16636
"The Mishap of Crew 92".
The detailed account of a mission flown by 467th Bomb Group, 791st Bomb Squadron on 18 March 1945, to Berlin, in B-24 42-50599.
The detailed account of a mission flown by 467th Bomb Group, 791st Bomb Squadron on 18 March 1945, to Berlin, in B-24 42-50599.
Media added from MACR 15454 -http://www.fold3.com
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 467th Bomb Group 791st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: That Red Headed Gal
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Erie County, PA, USA | 10 December 1898 | |
Enlisted |
Fort Meade, MD, USA | 27 January 1943 | |
Other Combat Tour |
Horsham St Faith, Norwich, Norfolk, UK | 7 June 1944 - 9 February 1945 | Flew 3 missions with the 466th BG and 23 with the 458th BG OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE WE DON’T THINK WE ARE PUTTING OUR NECKS OUT TOO FAR WHEN WE STATE WE BELIEVE THAT THIS GROUP HAS THE OLDEST COMBAT GUNNER IN THE ETO. WE BASE OUR CLAIMS ON S/SGT WELLS N. GARDNER WHO IS AN AERIAL GUNNER ON B-24’S WITH THE 458TH. SGT GARDNER IS A VETERAN OF WORLD WAR 1, HAVING SERVED 16 MONTHS IN FRANCE WITH THE 56TH ARTILLERY, A BATTERY. HE PARTICIPATED IN THE ARGONNE, CAMPAIGN AND WAS DISCHARGED AS A CORPORAL, JUNE 25, 1919. THIS 46 YEAR OLD GUNNER, WAS A BRAKEMAN FOR 10 YEARS WITH THE PENNSYLVANIA, RR, ENLISTED FOR WORLD WAR 11 IN OCTOBER 1942 AS A CORPORAL AND ENTERED FOREIGN SERVICE MAY 1, 1944. HE IS CREDITED WITH 26 COMBAT MISSIONS OVER GERMANY AND ENEMY OCCUPIED EUROPE AND HOLDS THE AIR MEDAL WITH THREE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS. BEFORE SGT GARDNER WAS ASSIGNED TO B-24’S HE WAS A GLIDER PILOT. GARDNER’S BETTER HALF, MRS. DOROTHY GARDNER, IS ALSO DOING HER FAIR SHARE IN THIS FRACAS AS SHE IS A WAC STATIONED AT LOWRY FIELD, COLO. AND AS WE SAY, “OLD SOLDIERS NEVER DIE”, THEY JUST KEEP ON GOING FOREVER. |
Died |
Erie, PA, USA | 14 March 1973 | |
Buried |
Erie, PA, USA | 17 March 1973 | Lakeside Cemetery Erie Erie County Pennsylvania, USA Plot: Sec 6,121C,#3 |
Other World War I Service |
Forêt de Hesse, 55120 Aubréville, France | Participated in the Argonne Offensive with the 56th Artillery, A Battery |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / newspaper article & Page 272 in the book SECOND AIR DIVISION by Turner Publishing Co, 1998 edition