Reuben James Weltha
Military
Crew left to right:
Front row T/Sgt. Richard A Kraham of Cooperstown, NY radio operator; S/Sgt. John I White of Plainview Arkansas, waist gunner
2nd Row: S/Sgt. John Martko, Mainville, NJ tailgunner; 1st Lt Charles B Hill Shreveport, LA navigator; 1st Lt John W Childers, Talent, OR co-pilot; 1st Lt Reuben J Weltha, Roland, IA pilot; S/Sgt. Donald F Swanson, Walsenberg, CO, waist gunner; 1st Lt Richard J Morrow, Madison, WI bombardier; S/Sgt Prentice Boston, Moundsville, WV, waist gunner; T/Sgt. Russel T Elkin, Markleysburg, PA Engineer,
Sgt Boston and Elkin can be seen on top of the plane.
Best Web - B-24 - Chug-A-Lug
Object Number - UPL 15201 - B-24D Liberator, 41-11766, Chug-A-Lug, 345th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, flew in the bombing mission to destroy the oil refineries at Ploesti, Rumania, ...
Lt. Reuben Weltha was a B-24 pilot assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron, in the 98th Bomb Group, in the 9th Air Force, in the USAAF. He flew on 50 combat missions, more than completing his required 25 mission combat tour and returned to the USA with the B-24D, Chug-A-Lug, for a war bond tour.
Awards: DFC, AM (OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39305311 / O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14065301
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12132046
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Chug-A-Lug
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Soluch Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Roland, IA | 24 September 1921 | Son of Clarion and Julia Olava [Tjernagel] Weltha. |
|
Enlisted |
Fort Des Moines, IA | 30 January 1941 | Fort Des Moines, Iowa |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
5 July 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
6 October 2009 | ||
|
Buried |
Holly Hills Memorial Park, Granbury, Hood County, TX | 10 October 2009 | Holly Hills Memorial Park Granbury, Hood County, Texas |
|
Based |
Benina | Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. | |
|
Other Pilot training |
Stamford AAF, TX | Primary flight training: Stamford AAF, Texas | |
|
Other Pilot training |
Brady AAF, Texas | Basic flight training: Brady AAF, Texas | |
|
Other Pilot training |
Lubbock AAF, TX | Advanced flight training: Lubbock AAF, Texas |