Hugh L. Wetzel was born in Middlesex County, New Jersey in 1923. He enlisted at San Antonio, Texas on December 11, 1942 for the Aviation Cadet program. His enlistment record states he was from the enlisted reserves, had 1 year of college and was employed as a general sales clerk.

After basic training, he entered and completed the basic and advanced flight training program. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and awarded pilot's wings. He was then transferred to an operational training unit for further training in formation flying, navigational techniques, target identification, and aerial gunnery. Assigned to a combat crew, he arrived in England in late 1943. There, the crew was assigned to the 563rd Bomb Squadron of the 388th Bomb Group, operating from Knettishall, England.

The crew flew 11 missions, but 7 of them ended as aborts, mainly from mechanical or weather conditions. On March 23, 1944, the crew flew as part of a raid on an aircraft plant in Brunswick, Germany. The formation arrived early at the coast and on to the target, therefore, it had no friendly fighter cover. Along the route, the formation was attacked by 35-40 enemy fighters, all engaged in vicious attacks, usually from 12 0'clock or 10 o'clock high.

Wetzel's aircraft was part of the low squadron that drew many attacks. Two B-17s fell out of formation, then it was Wetzel's aircraft that was shot down. Much damaged, the B-17 dropped out of the depleted squadron, and began a slow spin. The crew bailed out, but one chute was seen to not open. Five of the crew were killed in the parachute plunge; five others survived and were captured.

Lt Wetzel's body was recovered, and is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, airforce.togetherweserved.com