Harold D. Wellek served in the 379th Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group as a Second Lieutenant during World War II. The group flew four separate missions on August 4, 1944 supporting armored forces west of Vire, France, facing intense flak under a low ceiling. The 379th's 12 planes found good hunting, strafing a half track and eight tanks, then bombing a gun position and a tank. Lieutenant Harold Wellek's bombs hung on his first pass, so his leader, Lt. Kent Geyer, made a pass on the tank to show him where to drop them on his next pass. "He went down on the same target after his bombs hung the second time," said Geyer. "I was involved in talking with the controller about other targets when Lieutenant Welleck called and said he was hit. I told him to head west and then north. He answered, 'Roger. I am heading west."' Welleck never made it, falling to earth near Vire, killing the pilot. He is now buried in the Westlawn Cemetery, Norridge, Cook County, Illinois, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, Thunderbolts Triumphant, The 362nd Fighter Group vs Germany's Wehrmacht