Date Of Birth: June 8, 1923
Place Of Birth: Jackson County OH
Date Of Death:
Place Of Death:
Place Of Buriel:
Branch Of Service: United States Army
War Or Conflict: World War Two
Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
Unit: 8th Air Force 351st Bomber Group
Enlistment Date: December 19, 1942
Enlistment Place: Fort Thomas KY
Discharge Date: October 13, 1945
Discharge Place: Ellington Field in Houston TX
Wounded In Action: No
Spouse: Audrey N. Gash
Notes: Waist Gunner on a B-17 in the 351st Bomber Group. Flew 29
missions in England. Awarded the Air Medal and the Distinguished Flying
Cross. Was enrolled in Aviation Cadet School when the war with Germany
ended. His missions included five trips to Berlin. Technical Sergeant stationed
at three bases in England, one in Ireland, and seven in the United States.
Received the Distinguished Flying Cross on April 30, 1944. Received the Air
Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. Served in Army Air Force. The 351st
Bomber Group was a part of Lt. General James H. Doolittle's 8th Air Force.
He was both a nose gunner and tail gunner in a B-17 F. His crew flew a ship
they inherited called "Nobody's Darlin'". They safely flew it in three missions,
but encountered trouble on December 31, 1943 when they were hit by ground
fire as they dropped six 500 pound bombs over German emplacements at
Cognac, France. On the return flight his B-17 was attacked by German
fighters. Seven of the bombers went down and Butler's was hit. Due to fog
and low fuel the pilot had to ditch the plane on a deserted beach. He
completed 25 more missions, the last two being over Berlin in May of 1945.
Of The Veterans History Project
The American Folklife Center
The Library Of Congress
The Intellectual Property Of
The Beaver Valley Historical Society
Beaver OH 45613.
Use Of This Information Should Be
Credited To The Same.
