Sergeant (SGT) Edward Etzel Jr., United States Army Air Forces, Service Numbers: 36841015

Early Life

Edward Etzel Jr. was born on 21 August 1924 in Butler, Waukesha County, Wisconsin. His father, Edward John Etzel, born 27 April 1883 in Granville, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, died 18 March 1941 in Waukesha, Wisconsin, was a Railroad Company Electrician. His mother, Catherine Marie Loew was born on 27 May 1891 in Wisconsin and died on 24 October 1983 in Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Edward’s parents were married on 21 June 1911 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Edward was the fifth of six children in the family; he had two older brothers, two older sisters and a younger brother. He was a graduate of Shorewood High School.

Military

Edward Etzel Jr. entered the U.S. Army Air Forces in February 1944. At the time of his death, he was assigned as a B-17 Gunner with the 407th Bombardment Squadron, 92nd Bombardment Group operating in the European Theater.

Constituted as 92nd Bombardment Group (Heavy) on 28 Jan 1942. Activated on 1 Mar 1942. Trained with B-17's and performed antisubmarine duty. Moved to England, Jul-Aug 1942, and assigned to Eighth AF. Flew a few combat missions in Sep and Oct 1942, then trained replacement crews. Began bombardment of strategic objectives in May 1943 and engaged primarily in such operations throughout the war. Targets from May 1943 to Feb 1944 included shipyards at Kiel, ball-bearing plants at Schweinfurt, submarine installations at Wilhelmshaven, a tire plant at Hannover, airfields near Paris, an aircraft factory at Nantes, and a magnesium mine and reducing plant in Norway. Flight Officer John C Morgan, co-pilot, received the Medal of Honor for action aboard a B-17 during a mission over Europe, Jul 1943: when the aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters, the pilot suffered a brain injury which left him in a crazed condition; for two hours Morgan flew in formation with one hand at the controls and the other holding off the struggling pilot who was attempting to fly the plane; finally another crew member was able to relieve the situation and the B-17 made a safe landing at its base. Although handicapped by weather conditions, enemy fire, and insufficient fighter protection, the group bombed aircraft factories in central Germany on 11 Jan 1944 and received a DUC for the mission. Took part in the intensive campaign of heavy bombers against the German aircraft industry during Big Week, 20-25 Feb 1944. After that, attacked V-weapon sites in France; airfields in France, Germany, and the Low Countries; and industrial targets in France, Germany, and Belgium, making concentrated strikes on oil and transportation facilities after Oct 1944. In addition to strategic missions, performed some interdictory and support operations. Assisted the Normandy invasion in Jun 1944 by hitting gun emplacements, junctions, and marshalling yards in the beachhead area. Supported ground forces at St Lo during the breakthrough in Jul 1944. Bombed gun positions and bridges to aid the airborne assault on Holland in Sep 1944. Participated in the Battle of the Bulge, Dec 1944-Jan 1945, by attacking bridges and marshalling yards in and near the battle area.

Death and Burial

Edward Etzel Jr. was Killed in Action on 1 January 1945 while on a bombing mission over Stendal, Germany. He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart Medal and the Air Medal (with oak leaf cluster). He is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands, Plot: P, Row: 19, Grave: 12
Sources

https://www.newspapers.com/image/312193763/?terms=Edward%20Etzel&match=1

https://www.fold3.com/memorial/529873587/edward-etzel-jr

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56298543/edward-etzel

https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/2238/images/44047_05_00035-01913?pId=198938124

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/31367:9170?tid=107735199&pid=212282792352&queryId=c04d8278373aa550c9781d1740d1571d&_phsrc=owa120&_phstart=successSource

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see https://www.storiesbehindthestars.org/). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Together We Served and on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the faller’s name and read his/her story.

If you have any details, photos or corrections for this story, please email me by clicking on my name. CDR Robert Mulvanny – redandbon@outlook.com Contributing Author, Stories Behind the Stars.

Etzel, Edward, Jr., Sgt