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1st Lt Max A. Buettgenbach
Pilot

I was born in Lincoln, NE (A Cornhusker). I went to high school in Milford, NE.  After two years of college in Iowa, I went Cadets in the Army Air Corps. I married Vivian Stahly and we had two wonderful daughters Linda and Kathleen.

I was commissioned a 2nd Lt. pilot at the end of the class 43-J. After instructing in B-17s & B-24s for awhile, I went to B-29 training in Salina, KS. Later we went war with the 39th Bomb Group in the 61st Bomb Squadron. (Great Outfit). I was co-pilot on Jack Pulley's crew. We were just above and behind Capt Packett (sp) when we lost him and behind Orioncheck when he went into the ocean.

I returned home after the war and had various jobs, finally winding up on a farm in Eagle, NE. While on the farm our old boss Gen WIlliam Crumm used to come out and get fresh eggs and cream. He talked me into re-entering the service. Ended up flying B-36s, B-47s and B-52s in Spokane. Later my wife died and I remarried Virginia Sapiem while in California. We had a beautiful daughter Darlene.

Next, we spent some time in Taiwon before going to SAC Command Post. It was here that I learned that Gen Crumm was killed in an accident in the Pacific. Later, I transferred to 15th AF Hdgt as Chief of the Force Status Dividion. Retirement was next in Feb 1973.

Besides family, my loes are woodworking, oil painting, golf, fishing in Alaska and swimming.


The above is from an undated letter to James Wyckoff, (then) Association President - other letters received by Wckoff at the time were 1994.

Crew 34 Main Page
61st Squadron Crew Index
Source: Max A. Buettgenbach letter - circa 1994