I was born in Philadelphia in 1924 and lived with my family in two small river towns along the Delaware River in New Jersey until entering the military in 1942. After High School I attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.
Military
After High School I enlisted as an Aviation Cadet and completed the pilot training course and earned the rank of Second Lieutenant and Pilot Wings. After a crew of nine airmen was assigned to me, we were sent to the 8th Air Force in England. Before leaving, Bette and I became engaged but wisely decided to wait until I returned from England to be wed.
Service Training Locations:
- Camp Kilmer, NJ
- Maxwell Field, Montgomery AL
- Casper, WY
Our crew was assigned to the 487 Bomb Group of the 8th (Eighth) Air Force and flew strategic bombing missions over Germany from 1944 to 1945. After 28 missions, the commander of the group called me in and decided, in his words, we had “used up our luck.” He terminated the tour so that we could still fly but no more combat mission for this war. The crew was very happy to hear the news and I felt, at age 20, that I had already had a career.
| Distinguished Flying Cross | Air Medal | Army Good Conduct Medal |
| American Defense Medal | American Campaign Medal | European Campaign Medal |
| WWII Victory Medal | National Defense Service Medal | Armed Forces Reserve Medal |
Medicine
Upon returning home from England, we were married and I returned to school at the University of Pennsylvania, enrolling in the pre-med curriculum. I received my B.A., M.A., and was working for my Ph.D. while employed by the U.S. Navy in their research on high altitude stress and physiology for the early Space Program. Then I was offered an opportunity to go to medical school and to continue my research work at Western Reserve University School of Medicine. In 1958 I received my M.D. degree. We returned to Philadelphia for residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Lankenau Hospital of Jefferson Medical College. Upon completing my residency I accepted a position at Hahnemann Medical College as Assistant Professor.
In 1966 I accepted an offer to return to Western Reserve School of Medicine and University Hospitals. I was promoted to Professor in 1968 and continued at MacDonald House Hospital for Women, where I served as director for five years. In 1989 I retired as Emeritus Professor. I found this combination of research, teaching, medical practice and lecture trips made for a very stimulating and rewarding career.
Bette and were married for over 65 years. We have three children, all married, and two grandchildren. We live in Shaker Heights and Hilton Head, South Carolina.
W. Budd Wentz 
July 22, 2019 at 12:58 pm
A Salute to Dr Wentz and those who flew with him
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October 24, 2020 at 7:15 pm
I knew Dr Wentz when I worked at University Hospitals MacDonald Women’s Hospital. I knew he had served in WWII as did both of my parents but unfortunately I did not know that he was such a Great War hero. I remember his big personality and knew him as a great physician. I recall that he liked being in the OR doing surgery. I feel blessed to have crossed paths with this great man.
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