Gerald A Sparks

Military

Took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator 41-24229.



Shot down by fighters 16 August 1943. Attack was on Foggia airfields under TDY to the 9th AAF in 41-24229 'Buzzin' Bear'. Following a bail out, captured and imprisoned. Sparks escaped and returned to service.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

44th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The 'semiofficial' insignia of the 44th Bomb Group.

67th Bomb Squadron

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

Aircraft

41-24229

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Seeds of Satan - Miss Delores - Buzzin' Bear
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 67th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Meridian, Mississippi

Revisions

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Ploesti Sortie Reports, 44th Bomb Group

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate record to include details from:
the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia;
http://8thairforce.com/44thbg/search/perlastname.asp

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

44th BG Roll of Honor and Casualties by Will Lundy pp. 109-112, MACR 15858, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey p. 235 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia