Wilton B. Buller
Sergeant, U.S. Army Air Forces

In February 1944, Sergeant Wilton B. Buller was assigned as a gunner with 787th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group (Heavy), 96th Combat Bomb Wing, 8th Air Force, based at RAF Attlebridge, England. The 466th Bombardment Group flew B-24 Liberator bombers on missions in France and Germany.

On 13 February 1944, SGT Buller was a gunner on B-24 Liberator bomber AAF Serial Number 41-29354 that departed Fortaleza, Brazil for Dakar, Africa, at 2347 GMT, on a ferry mission. First contact with the plane was established at 0559 GMT, which was 6 hours 15 minutes after departing Fortaleza. At 0617, the aircraft reported only two hours of fuel remaining. Dakar notified three B-24 Liberators and one C-54 on another search in the same area, to watch for this aircraft. Contact was re-established on CW and Voice, bearings were taken and headings confirmed until 1119 when pilot asked that the field be cleared for two-engine landing, estimating his distance as 30 to 100 miles, bearing 60 degrees, with 20 minutes of fuel remaining. On beam at 4000 feet, bearing was taken and checked twice by DF position as 22 degrees. At 1123 a voice reported going down and station asked that key be tied down for bearing. At 1125 GMT on 14 February 1944, Dakar Radio heard a broadcast saying the aircraft was being ditched. Final bearing 213 degrees when carried tone stopped. No further contact with aircraft.

Search and Recovery Efforts

The Casualty Branch of the Adjutant General Office in Washington, DC, listed the cause of the loss as an Accident and the crew were reported as Non-Battle Casualties.

B-24 Liberator Bomber AAF Serial Number 41-29354 had the following crew on 14 February 1944.

● Pilot: 2LT Paul D. Pastovich [Honoree Record ID 175497]
● Co-Pilot: 2LT Earl F. Pollock [Honoree Record ID 175669]
● Navigator: 2LT James E. Blake [Honoree Record ID 171619]
● Bombardier: 2LT Robert W. (last name is illegible)
● Engineer: SGT Frank (NMI) Keszei [Honoree Record ID 174119]
● Radio Operator: SGT Lynn W. Bird [Honoree Record ID 171594]
● Gunner: SGT Wilton B. Buller [Honoree Record ID 171876]
● Gunner: SGT Alfred S. Kosciolek [Honoree Record ID 174227]
● Gunner: SGT Earl G. Moore [Honoree Record ID 175089]
● Gunner: SGT Lawrence E. Cody [Honoree Record ID 172169]

Medals, Awards and Badges

Air Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Forces Aircrew Badge

Memorialization

Sergeant Wilton B. Buller is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the North Africa American Cemetery and Memorial in Carthage, Tunis, Tunisia.

[Most of the information in this biography was derived from various sections of the 459th Bombardment Group website at http://www.459bg.org/ and permission was granted for its use.]