Another Good One is Gone; Richard Winebrenner Passes.

Richard Winebrenner was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps in April 1942.  He married his high school sweetheart, Daisy Weber, at Kelly Field in San Antonio, Texas in November of the same year.

Richard Winebrenner - 504th Bomb Group

Following a stint in South America, Winebrenner served as a top-turret gunner aboard the B-29 bomber, The One You Love in the Pacific Theater.  Stationed on Tinian Island in the Marianas, he was assigned to the 398th Bomb Squadron, 504th Bomb Group.

The One You Love completed bombing missions across the Japanese mainland, including several runs over Tokyo.  Other targets proved more unique.  “We stopped at Iwo Jima and refueled and went up and mined the harbor at Vladivostok in the Soviet Union,” Winebrenner said earlier.  “We dropped the mines from the plane into the harbor and they are designed to go off when ships go over them.  To this day, I have no idea why they sent us up there.

“We got the Distinguished Flying Cross for our bombing run over Kobe Harbor, Japan.  It was so well protected.  Before we started, they just checked us off as not likely to make it back, but we made it.

“We were bracketed one time with searchlights and that was a little scary. One of them isn’t so bad, but when they get you bracketed with two, then they’re really on you with their guns.”

Richard Winebrenner passed away at his home on July 15, 2011, at the age of 92.  Another good one is gone.  Your community and country thank you for your service and sacrifice.

2 Responses to “Another Good One is Gone; Richard Winebrenner Passes”

  1. Barry says:

    Loved listening to Dick’s stories, he will be missed.

  2. Michelle says:

    What a very special man he was, he was one of a kind! I am proud to call him my Grandpa and I miss him so much!

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