Forest Wayne Bertsch
MilitaryWhile serving as a Waist Gunner on B-17 41-24362 the aircraft was ditched into the English Channel 9-Oct-42. Rescued and Returned to Duty (RTD). First successful ditching of a B-17 in the ETO.
Awards; AM (3OLC), PH, American campaign, EAME (2BS), WWII Victory.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 301st Bomb Group 419th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 9 October 1942
- Official Description:
Places
![A bomber crew of the 92nd Bomb Group return to Podington following a mission flying B-17 Flying Fortresses to Wittenberg. A B-17 Flying Fortress (NV-K, serial number 42-29994) is visible in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 23 Feb 1945' [stamp]. ' News Chronicle Copyright Picture' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew back from Wittenberg.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379172.jpg.webp?itok=G7D0FciD)
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Shelby County, Ohio | 30 November 1919 | Born Shelby County, Ohio |
|
Enlisted |
Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio | 3 November 1941 | Enlisted Fort Hayes, Columbus, Ohio |
|
Died |
Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio | 8 February 1975 | Died Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio |
|
Buried |
Graceland Cemetery Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio | 11 February 1975 | Interred Graceland Cemetery Sidney, Ohio |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources
Lee Cunningham 16-nov-2014. Eidt to biography to add crew position.
ContributorLee8thbuff
Changes
Sources
Lee Cunningham 24-Oct-2014. National Archives Records Administration (NARA) WWII Enlistment records. Connections within web site data.
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Roll of Honor, Losses of the 8th and 9th AF by Bishop and Hey p.37