Merlin Dale Summers
Military
USAAF Photo
Object Number - UPL 57716 - Merlin D Summers, 306BG.
8th Air Force USAAF
306th Bomber Group - Reich Wreckers
423rd Bomber Squadron - Grim Reapers
Flew on Marvin Freeman crew. Reported to ETO on 08 Aug 1944.
S-SGT/ Engineer/Top Turret - Miss Ponca City B-17G-45-BO 42-97180
Requested orders to be part of the crew for Miss Ponca City.
Mission #1: Sept 1, 1944 - Sub Pens, Kiel, Germany
Mission #2: Sept 3, 1944 - Oil Refinery, Ludwickshaven, Germany
Mission #3: Sept 5, 1944 - Oil Refinery, Ludwickshaven, Germany
Mission #4: Sept 8, 1944 - Mission Aborted
Mission #5: Sept 10, 1944 - Oil Refinery and Military Base, Magdeburg, Germany
Mission #6: Sept 12, 1944 - Oil Refinery, Ruhland, Germany
Shot down over Staaken, Germany Sept 12, 1944 at 11:39AM by FW-190's enroute to Oil Refinery, Ruhland, Germany.
KIA - Killed In Action
MACR - 8832
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: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-818138
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 423rd Bomb Squadron
Places
![A bomber crew of the 306th Bomb Group wave to Picture Post Girls in front of a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-24471) nicknamed "Four of a Kind" at Thurleigh in December 1942. Image stamped on reverse: '"Picture Post" [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 11 Dec 1942.' [stamp], '238038.' [Censor no.] Handwritten in censor's blue pencil on reverse: 'American Flying Fortress crew are introduced to the girls they will meet at Picture Post Xmas Party.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379028.jpg.webp?itok=6Gc6iR0j)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born Ponca City, Oklahoma |
26 March 1918 | ||
|
Died KIA - Killed In Action |
12 September 1944 | Initially buried at cemetery in Britz, Germany | |
|
Buried Odd Fellows Cemetery, Ponca City, Oklahoma |
12 September 1944 | Specific date of being repatriated from cemetery in Britz, Germany for burial at Odd Fellows Cemetery, Ponca City, Oklahoma is unknown. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 8832, 306th BGA Collection, Russell Strong Index Cards, First Over Germany pg. 278, http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/wardept/pfra / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…
