Trenton Early Gard
Military ROLL OF HONOURTrenton Gard was Co-Pilot on B-24 #42-95240 on a supply mission to aid the 17th US Airborne during Operation Varsity on 24 March 1945 (American and British forces crossing the Rhine). The plane was flying at 300ft when it was hit by ground fire shortly after dropping the supplies in the Wesel area, Germany. After being hit, the B-24 nosed straight down into the ground and exploded. Trenton Gard and the eight other crew members on board were killed instantly. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18159921 at enlistment, then O-2005728
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19181308
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Nose Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36560983
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 42091683
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-777766
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: The Old Veteran
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 564th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 24 March 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
26 May 1920 | Little Rock, Arkansas | |
|
Enlisted |
24 September 1941 | as a Private in the Air Corps, at Kelly Field, San Antonio, Texas | |
|
Died |
24 March 1945 | in the crash of B-24 #42-95240, near Wesel, Germany | |
|
Born |
Houston, Harris County, Texas | ||
|
Buried |
Trenton Gard rests at the Forrest Park Cemetery, Houston, Harris County, Texas, USA |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Taffy Williams website