Gerald A Polzin

Military

Ditched in Channel in B-24 #44-40053, Rescued & Returned to Duty (RTD). MACR 8235.

Roads Crew 915. On 18/6/1944, A/C 44-40053 was hit by Me-109s while attacking an airfield near Luneburg. they were also hit by flak as they were limping back to England. They got within 12 miles of the English coast when they were forced to bail out. Their ship exploded when it hit the water. The British Air-Sea Rescue responded quickly but could only save two men and recover the body of a third. 8 KIA, 2 RTD, MACR 8235. Polzin RTD. On 11/6/1944, promoted S/Sgt

Connections

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Units served with

A Swedish Soldier guards a B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40159) nicknamed "Boulder Buff" of the 492nd Bomb Group that has landed in Sweden.

492nd Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

44-40053

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Sweater Gal
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 859th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Auburn, California, USA

Other

Rescued - Returned to Duty

North Sea 18 June 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorWhite-Knight
Changes
Sources

American Library Norwich England. Database.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added S/N per MACR 8235 at Fold3.com.
SOURCE: https://www.fold3.com/image/28676019

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Changed the label for a KIA event to “Rescued - Returned to Duty” per info in MACR 8235.
SOURCE: https://www.fold3.com/image/28676019?terms=44,40053

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8235 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database