Major

Herbert Francis Butterbach

Chaplain

384th Bombardment Group Heavy

Serial Nr O-336902

Major Herbert Francis Butterbach served as the 384th’s second Catholic chaplain, replacing Father Method Billy in October of 1944. The path that led him to the 384th Bomb Group was paved by over a decade of dedicated service to both his faith and his country. 

Resting Place - St. Martin Cemetery, Pittsburgh

Born in the West End of Pittsburgh on 27th April 1910, Herbert was the only child of Marcus George "Mark" Butterbach and Josephine M. Steedle Butterbach. 

He attended St. Martin’s School and SS. Peter and Paul’s School, both in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He later pursued his studies for the priesthood at St. Fidelis Seminary in Herman, Pennsylvania, and later, St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. 

On 17th June 1934, Herbert was ordained at Saint Vincent Archabbey Basilica Church in Latrobe, Pennsylvania by Bishop Hugh Charles Boyle. He spent the following year in charge of St. Mary’s Church and Sacred Heart Church in McKeesport, Pennsylvania.

Herbert’s commitment to service soon extended beyond the church walls when he decided to enter the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). There, he served as a chaplain from August 1935 to December 1938 at various camps across Pennsylvania. After a brief return to parish work as an assistant at St. Vitus Church in New Castle, Pennsylvania, he re-entered the CCC in November 1939. Then, on 28th June 1940, he officially transferred to the Army Chaplain Corps.

Now a First Lieutenant, Herbert’s military journey took him across the United States, from Selfridge Field in Michigan, to Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, where he was assigned to the 42nd Bomb Group (Medium). 1st Lt. Butterbach steadily rose through the ranks to Major, though the exact dates and details of these promotions remain unrecorded.

Also unrecorded is the exact date of his arrival in England, but Butterbach, now a Major, had his first overseas assignment with the 92nd Bomb Group (Heavy). He served with the 92nd until 6th October 1944, when he was given orders to transfer to the 384th Bomb Group. Six days later, on 12th October, Major Butterbach arrived at Grafton Underwood. 

In a notable exchange of personnel, the priest he was replacing, Father Method Billy, was simultaneously transferred to the 92nd Bomb Group to take over the very position Major Butterbach had just vacated. Major Butterbach remained with the 384th through the final months of the war in Europe, and he was relieved from duty 30th April 1945.

Butterbach returned to the United States on 29th June 1945, and was stationed at Drew Field in Tampa, Florida. Tragically, less than six weeks after his discharge from the 384th, Butterbach suffered a fatal heart attack at the age of 35 on 16th August 1945. 

His body was escorted back to Pennsylvania by Captain Michael S. Reagan, a fellow chaplain, and laid in state at St. Patrick’s Church in Noblestown, Pennsylvania. Major Butterbach’s funeral was held at St. Martin’s Church, where his uncle, Father Otto Butterbach, offered the Solemn Requiem Mass in the presence of Bishop Hugh Charles Boyle, who had ordained him eleven years prior. Following the service, Major Butterbach was laid to rest with a military escort in his hometown of Pittsburgh at St. Martin Cemetery.

Research courtesy of Mikayla Leech on behalf of 384th Bombardment Group Museum.

With kind thanks to the 384th Bomb Group website www.384thbombgroup.com for permission in using material from their records in the making of this story. It holds a wealth of information, documents and photographs of their activities during World War 2.

Further information courtesy of www.newspapers.com, www.ancestory.com and www.findagrave.com

https://arc.stparchive.com/page_image.php?paper=ARC&year=1945&month=8&day=31&page=1&mode=F&base=ARC08311945p01&title=Arkansas%20Catholic

https://thearrowheadclub.com/2017/08/30/chaplain-herbert-francis-butterbach/

https://www.honorstates.org/profiles/415308/