SBD'S OF MARINE SQUADRON FLY TO MILI FOR ANOTHER STRIKE AGAINST JAPANESE ISLANDS ON AUGUST 1944. WITH A COLLAGE OF PHILIPPINE AND JAPANESE CURRENCY AND MILITARY AWARDS. Images Copyright © George F. Weixler. With permission to NASFL Museum.
George F. Weixler from Ridgewood, Long Island, was a Radio and Search Gunner from the United States Marine Corps, serving during WWII on a Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless aircraft. George volunteered at NAS Miramar in San Diego to be a replacement gunner. He was sent to El Centro, CA for gunnery training, and then back to Miramar. He shipped out to the South Pacific, leaving from San Francisco on a troop ship going under the Golden Gate Bridge. Soon after, he was assigned to Marine Scout Bomber Squadron 243 (VMSB-243), a dive bomber Squadron which was activated for missions in the Philippines. This Squadron known as the “Flying Goldbricks” fought also in the Battle of Bougainville and saw action against Japanese forces in the Islands area at Noumea, New Caledonia, Espiritu Santos, Efate Island, Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, Munda, New Georgia, Emirau, Bismarck Archipelago, Hollandia, New Guinea, Luzon, Mindanao, Seeadler Bay and Los Negros. They were deactivated shortly after the end of the war on September 25, 1945.
After the war, in 1948, George met Agnes Muriel Beach (“Muriel”), who was part of a military family. 3 months later, they would marry. Soon after, the couple would settle in the state of New York to raise three children. George went on to work at the Long Island Lighting Company for 34 years; and then retired and lived in Bethpage, Long Island close to the Grumman Aircraft Manufacturing Plant. In 2002, George and Muriel moved to Fort Lauderdale Florida. His wife passed away recently. George has eight grandchildren of whom he is very proud. One of them is currently in Beirut, Lebanon working among the community in behalf of better relations between the United States and Lebanon. George F. Weixler will soon be a great-grandfather. Mr. Weixler visited the NASFL Museum and shared with us his images, documents and stories. Thank you George for your visit, for sharing with us, and for your service to our country!
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Images Copyright © George F. Weixler. With permission to the NASFL Museum.
After the war, in 1948, George met Agnes Muriel Beach (“Muriel”), who was part of a military family. 3 months later, they would marry. Soon after, the couple would settle in the state of New York to raise three children. George went on to work at the Long Island Lighting Company for 34 years; and then retired and lived in Bethpage, Long Island close to the Grumman Aircraft Manufacturing Plant. In 2002, George and Muriel moved to Fort Lauderdale Florida. His wife passed away recently. George has eight grandchildren of whom he is very proud. One of them is currently in Beirut, Lebanon working among the community in behalf of better relations between the United States and Lebanon. George F. Weixler will soon be a great-grandfather. Mr. Weixler visited the NASFL Museum and shared with us his images, documents and stories. Thank you George for your visit, for sharing with us, and for your service to our country!
Click on thumbnails to enlarge and read descriptions.
Images Copyright © George F. Weixler. With permission to the NASFL Museum.
George kept an Aviator's Diary. In it, there are photographs, foreign currency, and a feather which reminded him of Native Americans like the Navaho "Code Talkers" helping with the war effort. He also kept records of missions and enemy raids, which sadly would injure or kill some of his fellow marines. George was rewarded with the Distinguished Flying Cross and several Air Medals. Fortunately for George, he was never injured.
From inside George F. Weixler's WWII Aviator's Diary. A map of the campaigns in the Philippine Islands and paper currency. Images Copyright © George F. Weixler. With Permission to the NASFL Museum.
From the pages of George F. Weixler's Aviators Flight Log Book
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