Bernard Victor Buehler

Bernard Victor Buehler enlisted into the US Army Air Forces on Oct. 12, 1942, at Fort Snelling in Minnesota. He began his training as an aircraft mechanic in Mississippi but was chosen for aerial gunnery school. He was sent to Midland, Texas, for training. Bernard and his wife, Catherine, lived together in Texas until January 1943, when she returned to Wisconsin. He was granted leave in March 1943 and used it to visit his family.

He rose to the rank of corporal while at Camp Breckenridge, Texas. He received his Gunner's Wings from Laredo Army Airfield, Texas in February 1944. Cpl. Buehler received advanced training as an Aeronautical Engineer at Briggs Field, Texas. He attained the rank of Staff Sergeant and was sent to Europe in June 1944.

On July 23, 1944, he was assigned to the 765th Bomb Squadron, 461st Bomb Group. He completed 31 missions as an Aerial-Mechanic Gunner (MOS 748) on a B-24 Liberator bomber. On Oct. 13, 1944, S/Sgt Buehler and his crew took off for a bombing mission on the Vienna Marshaling Yards in Austria. They were over Italy when the lead plane in the formation began having engine issues. The lead plane dropped back and Buehler's B-24 assumed the lead position. While over Foggia, Italy, the former lead B-24 repaired its engine and caught up with Buehler's B-24. Sadly, the former lead came in too low and collided with Buehler's plane. The other B-24's propellors cut into Buehler's plane's fuselage and triggered an explosion, blowing the plane in two.

Out of the 10 crewmen on that B-24, only one survived. The tail gunner was thrown free from the wreckage and was able to pull his parachute.

Staff Sergeant Bernard Victor Buehler is buried at Riverside Cemetery in Nekoosa, Wisconsin.