Donald Frederick Wagner

SECOND LIEUTENANT DONALD F. WAGNER, was grew up in Burlington County NJ and graduated from Riverside High School in Riverside NJ in 1938. Born on November 29, 1920 he was the only child of Mr. and Mrs. Louis P. Wagner. The Wagner family moved to a home at 424 North 6th Street in Camden NJ shortly after Donald Wagner graduated high school. He took a job at the RCA-Victor plant in Camden, a short walk from his home.

Joining the war effort, Donald Wagner entered the Army Air Force, and was trained as a pilot, flying a -24 Liberator. He was assigned to the 720th Bomber Squadron of the 450th Bomber Group, which was based in Italy.

On his 15^th mission, the 450th Bomber Group attacked the railroad marshaling yards at Ploesti, Romania. At 2:30 in the afternoon, his plane was attacked by German fighters and were on fire. The nose gunner was killed instantly and another was wounded. Don gave the order to bail out. As the crew were bailing out the plane went into a dive. He went back to the cockpit and pulled the plane level so that all the men could get out safely. Before he could get out the plane exploded. The seven other men all bailed out safely and were mad prisoners of war, although one man died of the wounds he got in the plane and when he landed.

Upon confirmation of his death, a memorial services for Donald Wagner were held at the Moravian Church in Riverside NJ on October 15, 1944. 

On September 25, 1945, The Distinguished Service Cross was awarded posthumously to Lt. Wagner in a ceremony held at New Castle Army Air Base in New Castle DE. 

Donald Fredrick Wagner was brought home to New Jersey after the war. On June 8, 1949 he was buried in the Distinguished Service section of Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly NJ. For his gallant actions, he received the Distinguished Service Cross, our nation's second highest award for valor, along with the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and the Purple Heart. Two friends of his have named their sons after him.

June 4, 1944

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