Theodore Frank Tourtellott was born on September 20, 1924, in Martin County, Minnesota. He was the son of Fay Amos Tourtellott and Emma Amelia Kahler Tourtellott.

Theodore resided in Knox County, Illinois, prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on February 5, 1943, in Peoria, Illinois. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Shipping and receiving clerk and also as Single, without dependents.

During World War II, served in the 860th Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-17G #43-38115 'Reluctant Lassie.' He was killed in the explosion of his airplane during a mission in Germany on September 30, 1944.

B-17G #43-38115 took off, with a crew of 9, from Station 152, England, on a bombing mission over Bielefeld, Germany. Near the target, they were believed to have been hit by bombs dropped from another B-17 that was above them causing his aircraft to explode and crash near Wellenkotten, Germany. Only one parachute was seen leaving B-17G #43-38115. The debris, due to the explosion of B-17G #43-38115, also caused B-17G #43-38480 to crash as well.

TSgt Tourtellott is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38115:
Barton, Ernest R, Jr. ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, MA
Gage, Stanton ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, TX
Moss, Carroll E. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, MD
Spatarella, Enrico J. ~ S/Sgt, Waist Gunner, NY
Stamps, Carrel W. ~ S/Sgt, Tail Gunner, OK
Tourtellott, Theodore ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, IL
Treece, Daniel R. ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, NJ
Welsh, James G. ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, NY

The only crew member to survive this crash was 2nd Lt. Artemon P. Johnston, the Navigator.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com