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Gerald C Erdahl

Military

  • I have been unable to locate an image of 42-29946. This aircraft is an example of a B17-F as is 42-29946. This aircraft was not assigned to the 525th Sqd/379BG(H). This image or file is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain.

    I have been unable to locate an image of 42-29946. This aircraft is an example of a B17-F as is 42-29946. This aircraft was not assigned to the 525th Sqd/379BG(H). This image or file is a work of a U.S. Air Force Airman or employee, taken or made as part of that person's official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, the image or file is in the public domain.

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SSgt Gerald Erdahl (RT Waist) Survived his final mission to the synthetic rubber plant located at Hulls Germany on June 22, 1943. Enemy aircraft attacked the formation at approximately 09:15AM just prior to their reaching the IP of their bomb run. His B17F 42-29946 was damaged by 20 mm cannon fire causing the aircraft to spin, tumble and crash. 2nd Lt Walter J Nachtwey Co Pilot stated that some of the crew unable to contact either Captain Dollarhide or himself was able to exit the airplane via the waist door prior to the plane spinning completely out of control. Captured he remained a Prisoner of War for the duration.

Service

Units served with

  • 379th Bomb Group

    379th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...

  • 525th Bomb Squadron

    525th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

Aircraft

  • 42-29946

    B-17 Flying Fortress
    Delivered Cheyenne 15/3/43; Gore 16/3/43; Cheyenne 22/3/43; Walla Walla 2/4/43; Metropolitan 13/4/43; Assigned 525BS/379BG Kimbolton 4/5/43; ...

Missions

  • VIII Bomber Command 65

    22 June 1943
    The German rubber industry (Chemische Werke Hüls AG) at Marl (district Hüls-Nord), Germany, is the primary objective of this mission and is assigned to the Bomb Groups with the most expericence. Also the industrial area of Antwerp, Belgium is assigned...

Nationality
American
Nickname
Not yet known
Service numbers
37298492
Highest rank
Staff Sergeant
Role/job
Right Waist Gunner
Awards
  • European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
  • Prisoner of War Medal
  • World War II Victory Medal

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
05 November 2015 22:45:13 Hobie@64205 Changes to role
Sources

Erdahl
Date Contributor Update
03 November 2015 21:25:36 Hobie@64205 Changes to role
Sources

Erdahl
Date Contributor Update
03 November 2015 21:24:45 Hobie@64205 Changes to service number
Sources

Erdahl
Date Contributor Update
03 November 2015 21:23:13 Hobie@64205 Changes to mission associations
Sources

Erdahl
Date Contributor Update
03 November 2015 21:18:09 Hobie@64205 Changes to awards
Sources

Erdahl
Date Contributor Update
03 November 2015 21:17:08 Hobie@64205 Changes to biography and events
Sources

Erdahl
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:11:20 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1294 / MACR 1294; The 379th Bombardier Group Anthology, pg 265 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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