Wilbur D. Van Pelt was born on February 13, 1920. He served in the 1st Pathfinder Squadron (Provisional) as a Second Lieutenant and the bombardier of the B-26 #41-31903 IH*T during World War II.

On the morning of November 26, 1944, they took off from A-61 airfield in Beauvais-Tillé, France en route to the base of the 409th Army Air Corps (A-48 airfield) in Bretigny France. They were scheduled to lead a bombing mission the next day to Berlin, Germany. 06:52, it was a dark and cloudy morning with limited visibility. The pilot, John H. Dilg, had limited nighttime flying experience. He undershot the runway hitting a high tension wire carrying 15,000 volts. The aircraft skidded across the ground catching fire. It came to a stop and the two 1,000 lb. bombs they were carrying exploded. Before the explosion Engineer/Gunner Leonard D. Metzger and Tail Gunner Harold E. Horney escaped through a rear exit and survived. The five other men on board were killed (including 2Lt Van Pelt).

2Lt Van Pelt is now buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson County, Missouri, USA. His name is commemorated on a monument located at Great Dunmow, England and listed under the 555th Bomb Squadron, 386th Bomber Group, Medium.

B-26 #41-31903 aircrew:
1Lt John H. Dilg - Pilot
1Lt William Haban - Navigator
2Lt Wilber D. Van Pelt - Bombardier
2Lt Dale V. Burk - Co-Pilot
T/Sgt Leo D. Balcom - Radio Operator
S/Sgt Leonard D. Metzger - Mechanic
S/Sgt Harold E. Horney - Machine Gunner

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net