This is a copy of an article that appeared in the White Falcon, Keflavik Airport, Iceland, an official USAF newspaper at that base, on Saturday, May 18, 1957:

Airman Fatally Injured

Airman Third Class Wayne A. Buettner of the 934th AC&W Squadron was crushed to death between a barge and a caterpillar on May 8th at the H-4 site at Straumnes, Iceland.

Buettner, an AC&W Operator, was part of a five man work party engaged in bringing a barge full of supplies in to shore and unloading it. The sea was rough and a large breaker prematurely beached the barge.

In an effort to attach a cable from the caterpillar on the beach, onto the barge the young airman and S/Sgt Richard W. Schaefer were between the two. According to Sergeant Schaefer, “Another big wave came and lifted the barge up in the air and slammed it down against the cat. I saw it coming and yelled to Buettner to get out of the way — but as he turned to look up the barge hit him.”

The victim suffered multiple fractures of the head and upper body.

The 19 year old airman was from Milwaukee, Wisconsin and would have been 20 on the 27th of this month. He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Buettner and a brother, Robert C. Buettner. Their address is 4000 S. 68th Street, Milwaukee.