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 1914 - 1944 (30 years)
Generation: 1
| 1. |  Merwin S. Wheeler was born on 11 Jan 1914 in Tilden, Nebraska, USA; died on 18 Mar 1944 in Le Ployron, Hauts-de-France, France ; was buried in Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Département des Vosges, Lorraine, France. Notes:
On 18 March 1944, two B-24 Liberators from the 392nd Bomb Group, 576th and 577th Bomber Squadrons, were involved in a horrific mid-air collision over the Oise department in France. Amblin Oakie, Aircraft #41-29174, on its 25th mission, and Aircraft 41-28651 (no nickname) on its 9th mission both took off from the UK at around 10am on 18 March 1944, along with 26 other aircraft, on a bombing mission to Friedrichshafen. Amblin Oakie was caught in violent propeller wash from the other craft as it fell out of formation. The collision occurred at 1253. On Amblin Oakie a section of the right wing torn off behind the #4 engine as well as a portion of the tail assembly. The other plane lost its left tail section and both wings.
Wheeler was a machine gunner for the Aircraft 41-28651. One crew member parachuted to safety, the other nineteen were killed in the fiery crash just outside of Le Ployron, France.
Died:
World War II -
Killed in Air Collision
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