Mert J Welton

Pilot, Lt Mert Welton was the Co-Pilot in the B-25 "TROUBLE" #41-13209, Shot-Down 31 March, 1943.  *** A/C No. 41-13209 “Trouble” (MACR-14579) “Lost at Sea"  ***

Welton Merton J., "Mert", 2Lt., Pilot, Enlistment Service # :16009087    Officer's Service # : O-662997
KILLED IN ACTION On 31 March 1943     448th Bombardment Squadron War Diary:
     On March 31, 1943, on a low element sea sweep (Bombing Mission) over the Mediterranean Sea, Off of Northeastern Tunisia, the first battle casualties of the squadron occurred. 2 Crews, (13 Men), and 2 Planes were Lost,1st Lt. Hess, McKinney; 2nd Lts: Campbell, Welton; S/Sgts: Cookman, Hines, Kirol, McGinnis, McMurray, Ratajczyk, Rodgers, Headings and Lottes were shot down into the Mediterranean Sea by enemy fighters. The mission however did succeed in sinking two enemy ships.
     At 12:45 15 planes off to bomb on sea sweep, over the Mediterranean Sea. 14 (planes) dropped 84 x 500 bombs. 12 planes back at 17:05. One landed at Bone. Met convoy, lower element (48) claims M/V (Military Vessel) broken in two, one M/V (Military Vessel) left sinking, one left burning. 4 E/A (Enemy Aircraft) destroyed. About 50 E/A (Enemy Aircraft) attacked 2 B-25’s (Lts: Hess and McKinney) shot down. Intense, heavy accurate flak, balloon barrage. Bombing was at 100-200 feet. Weather: Clear.
     Own Aircraft Losses: Two. B-25C 41-13209 and B-25C 41-13205. One by flak and 1455 hours - 37°35’N, 10°47’E; the other by fighters at 1512 hours - 37°48’N, 10°27E.

Low Element
A/C No. 41-13205 (MACR-14578 “Lost at Sea.
Aircraft was lost to enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft”)
P: McKinney, Charles A., 1Lt~KIA
CP: Campbell, John F., 2Lt~KIA
N: None
B: Kirol, Edward A., S/Sgt~KIA
E: Ratajczyk, Thomas S., S/Sgt~KIA
R: Headings, Boyd V., S/Sgt-KIA
G: McGinnis, Lofton F., S/Sgt~KIA
F: Lottes, Richard O., Sgt(ASV)~KIA

A/C No. 41-13209 “Trouble” (MACR-14579 “Lost at Sea.
Aircraft was lost to enemy aircraft and anti-aircraft”)
P->Hess, Robert G., 1Lt - KIA;
CP->Welton, Mert J., 2Lt - KIA;
N->None;
B->McMurray, Walter J., S/Sgt - KIA;
E->Rodgers, Herbert E., S/Sgt - KIA;
R->Cookman, Harold F., S/Sgt - KIA;
G->Hines, Ralph V., S/Sgt - KIA;
F->None;
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U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
NAME WELTON  MERT  J  - ARMY SERIAL NUMBER 16009087  RESIDENCE: STATE3 WISCONSIN
RESIDENCE: COUNTY  WINNEBAGO   PLACE OF ENLISTMENT   MILWAUKEE WISCONSIN
DATE OF ENLISTMENT  06  May, 1941     Private   Air Corps   NATIVITY   WISCONSIN   YEAR OF BIRTH 1922
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP  White, citizen   EDUCATION 5 -  1 year of college
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION   Semiskilled chauffeurs and drivers, bus, taxi, truck, and tractor
MARITAL STATUS Single, without dependents  
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U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945
Name: Mert J Welton
Gender: Male
Race: White
Religion: Catholic
Disposition: Nonrecoverable
Service Branch: Army
Rank: Second Lieutenant
Service Number: 662997
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World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas    Name: Mert J Welton     Inducted From: Wisconsin
Rank: Second Lieutenant    Combat Organization: 448th Bomber Squadron 321st Bomber    Death Date: 31 Mar 1943
Monument: North Africa    Last Known Status: Missing     U.S. Awards: Purple Heart Medal; Air Medal
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U.S. WWII Military Personnel Missing In Action or Lost At Sea, 1941-1946    Name: Mert J Welton
Date of Loss: 31 Mar 1943 0    Branch: U.S. Army Air Force    Rank: 2 LT   Service Number: O662997
Status: Missing in Action
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National WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C.   Registry~NARA~War Department Files   Honoree Hometown Service Source
Mert J. Welton Winnebago County, WI U.S. Army National Archives      LT Mert J. Welton ID: O-662997
Branch of Service: U.S. Army    Hometown: Winnebago County, WI    Status: FOD
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National WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C.   Registry~NARA~War Department Files   Honoree Hometown Service Source
Mert J. Welton WI U.S. Army Air Forces ABMC Tablets of the Missing       Mert J. Welton ID: O-662997
Entered the Service From: Wisconsin    Rank: Second Lieutenant    Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 448th Bomber Squadron, 321st Bomber Group, Medium    Died: Wednesday, March 31, 1943
Memorialized at: North Africa American Cemetery    Location: Carthage, Tunisia   Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart
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findagrave.com:    TWO LISTINGS

2Lt Mert J Welton   Birth: unknown   Death: Mar. 31, 1943    Note: Entered the service from Wisconsin.
Burial: North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial ABMC     Tunis, Tunis Governorate, Tunisia
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Merton J Welton     Birth: Jan. 6, 1922      Death: Mar. 23, 1943

Born 1922 ;  Died 1943 ;  Army U.S.A.A.F. ;  2nd LT MIA
A pilot a on B-25 "Mitchel" Medium Bombers. He was flying bombing missions out of North Africa when he was listed as missing in action on March 23, 1943 He was officially declared dead in May 1944. A letter from an eye witness said that Welton's plane had just bombed and destroyed an Italian freighter in the Mediterranean Ocean when they were attacked by two German fighters. Their plane turned over on its back and crashed into the ocean.
Burial: Nepeuskun Cemetery    Rush Lake, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, USA