Conover war hero

Lewis F. ("Pete") Setzer

 
Lewis F. ("Pete") Setzer & B-24 crew

Fifteenth Air Force Group (Heavy)
450th Bombardment Group
720th Flight Squadron - The “Cottontails”
Command Pilot B-24 Liberator - Mandura, Italy

Born in Conover, December 24, 1922. Setzer was a 1941 graduate of Newton Conover High School. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in May of 1942. Received flight training in Texas and Kansas. Assigned in 1943 to the 450th Bomb Group (Heavy) with the 720th Flight Squadron., out of North Africa and Italian bases.

His memorable experience was the dreaded missions to the German held oil field reserves at Ploesti, Romania. The usual assigned missions to Ploesti was to began the bomb-run at 1500 feet. The barrels of the anti-aircraft guns around the field could clearly be seen below the in-coming squadrons. The flights to this target in Romania were the most feared of all missions. Over 25 Presidential Unit Citations were given to various squadrons for their effort, along with hundreds of Purple Hearts. One Unit citation was given the group on February 25th, 1944 for missions to Regensburg, Germany. Over 1504 airmen of the 405th BG lost their lifes during World War Two.

Major Setzer completed over 50 missions in the European Theater of Operations.
Having been with the air reserves in Charlotte, in 1951 he was re-assigned to a B-29 aircraft group (Commander) in the Korean War. His base of operations was at the island of Okinawa to fly night missions over North Korea. After completion of over 35 combat missions he returned to Charlotte and retired from the reserves in 1974.

Employed by Hickory Printing Company, Lewis F. Setzer would rise through the ranks to become senior vice president of the newly formed Hickory Printing Company, in Conover, remaining there until his death on August 31, 2004.

For his gallant military service he was awarded the following medals. Four Presidential Unit Citations, The Distinguished Fly Cross, the Air Medal with 11 clusters with 5 battle stars. American Campaign Medal, the European Campaign Medal, Victory in Europe medal. The army Good Conduct medal. The Korean Service medal and the NATO (Korean) medal.

He had four children, Suzann, Charles, Julia and Paul. He along with his wife, JoAnn is buried at the Conover City Cemetery.
 

[See also http://www.450thbg.com/real/biographies/450/208setzer.shtml]

Article and photos courtesy of Don Barker

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