Gerald Berdette Yoder
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
"Iowans of the Mighty Eighth", Chapter 19 "Killed in Action", by Charles D Taylor
Object Number - UPL 22270 - Gerald Yoder - Woolstock, 453rd BG, KIA
Gerald Yoder was Ball Turret gunner on B-24H #41-28642 'Libby Raider', which crashed on landing after a practice mission on 2 March 1944. Returned To Duty (RTD). He was on board B-24H #42-52226 when it fell out of formation after fighter attacks on return from a mission to Genshagen near Berlin on 6 March 1944. The crew baled over the Ijsselmeer, Holland, with three rescued and seven drowned, including Gerald. Killed in Action (KIA). He was married to LaVonne Yoder.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A bomber crew of the 453rd Bomb Group wait on a jeep. Letter enclosed with print: '[Left to Right] James E Terwilliger- Waist Gunner, Luhter M Clark- Co-pilot, Carl Powell- Navigator, Lattie P Head- Nose Gunner, Nicholas Radosevich- Pilot, Edmund M Survilla- Tail Gunner, Lt ? Lee- Bombardier (Robert Burgess was the Bombardier on the original crew), Joseph D Craft- Radio operator, Robert Victor- Waist Gunner, Robert O Hanson- Engineer- Top Turret. Original Cadre- Model (Crew #41) 734th Squadron, 453rd Bomb](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380672.jpg.webp?itok=L5hegKpe)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17063523 at enlistment, then O-687662
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18090466
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16061076 at enlistment, then O-746308
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16082294 at enlistment, then O-690377
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17054896 at enlistment, then O-688935
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 734th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 6 March 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
3 July 1920 | Woolstock, Wright County, Iowa, United States, the son of George and Nellie Yoder | |
|
Other bailed out |
6 March 1944 | of B-24H #42-52226, over Noord-Holland | |
|
Other Killed In Action |
6 March 1944 | landed in the Ijsselmeer, The Netherlands, and drowned | |
|
Other body found |
30 April 1944 | in the waters of the Ijsselmeer | |
|
Buried |
6 May 1944 | at the Oosterbegraafplaats (Eastern Cemetery) in Amsterdam, The Netherlands | |
| Albert City, Buena Vista County, Iowa | |||
|
Buried |
after the liberation of the area, his remains were buried at the Margraten American Temporary Cemetery, The Netherlands | ||
|
Buried |
after the war, his remains were brought to the USA, where Gerald rests at the Glenwood Cemetery in Mankato, Minnesota |
Revisions
MACR 2970
WWII Draft Card
Added a "#" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2970 / MACR 2970, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
