Bertram R. Theiss of Auburn, New York, was born on October 10, 1917. He served in the 407th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group, as a Second Lieutenant and Bombardier on the B-17 'Hi-Lo Jack' #42-9725 during World War II. On September 3, 1943, at 0600H, his crew took off from Station 102 airfield in Alconbury, England, for a mission to Romilly-sur-Seine and St-André-de-l'Eure, France. Shot down by JG26 Fw190 fighters at 08:40, all crew members were able to survive their crashing plane. The aircraft crashed 1 km north of Trilbardou, between Meaux and Claye-Souilly. 2Lt Theiss returned to the UK on December 3, 1943.

After the war, Bert was a communicant of the Holy Family Church and a member of the Holy Name and the Nocturnal Adoration societies. He was a union steward for Teamsters Local #117; VFW Rothberg Post-Camillus. He served as chaplain and quartermaster at the VFW Jack Chadwick Post and was a scoutmaster with Holy Family Parish. He died at home on April 9, 2009, at the age of 91, and is now buried in the Saint Joseph's Cemetery, Fleming, Cayuga County, New York, USA.

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