Merlin Philip Gaudet

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
UPL 76458 UPL 76458 Lt. Laurence R. Lofgren Crew c. 1944 Pueblo, CO
Standing Back Row L to R: F/O James Froula; Lt. Merlin Gaudet; Lt. Laurence Lofgren; Lt. George Sankey
Middle Row L to R: T/Sgt. William Clifton; S/Sgt. Alan W. Keenen; S/Sgt. Kenneth "Joe" Stalder
Sitting Front Row L to R: S/Sgt. Thomas Davis; S/Sgt. Robert Martinec; T/Sgt. Melvin Solomon

Cropped from image media-17156.jpeg (media id 18746)
Lt./Col. Alan W. Keenen (USAF, Ret.)

Object Number - UPL 76458 - Lt. Laurence R. Lofgren Crew c. 1944 Pueblo, CO Standing Back Row L to R: F/O James Froula; Lt. Merlin Gaudet; Lt. Laurence Lofgren; Lt. George...

Killed in Action (KIA) near northwest of Wesel, Germany in B-24 'Queen of Angels' #4250735.



2nd Lieutenant Merlin P. Gaudet was born November 12, 1920. His next of kin were his parents, Gabriel T. and Lucille Gaudet. His hometown was Metuchen, New Jersey.



Lt. Gaudet was the copilot of “Queen of Angels,” B-24 tail #42-50735, of the 446th Bomb Group, 704th Bomb Squadron, when it went down NW of Wesel, Germany, on March 24, 1945.

He is buried at the US Military Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, Netherlands. He was survived by his wife, Marion E. Gaudet, mother, brother, Floyd, and sister, Juanita. Lt. Gaudet was also the co-pilot on the "Bangin' Lulu' #42-51091 while at Bungay.

Connections

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Units served with

A flight of B-24 Liberators of the 446th Bomb Group fly in formation above the clouds.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner/Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14202685
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13200624
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner and Armorer (MOS 612)

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Queen of Angels
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Bangin' Lulu
  • Unit: 446th Bomb Group 492nd Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron 857th Bomb Squadron 858th Bomb Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Bungay (Flixton) airfield, looking south, the technical site- with T2 hangar- and control tower are to the right, where the main airfield gate is also situated, 16 October 1945. Photograph taken by No. 541 Squadron, sortie number RAF/106G/UK/930. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Flixton

Related videos and documents

  • Media Type: Document
  • Collection Name: William L Beigel Collection
  • Object Number: Document 22348
  • Description: Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Second Lieutenant Merlin Philip Gaudet of the 446th Bomb Group researched by historian...

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Saint Petersburg, FL, USA 12 November 1920 2nd Lieutenant Merlin P. Gaudet was born November 12, 1920. His next of kin were his father, Gabriel T. and mother, Lucille Gaudet. His hometown was Metuchen, New Jersey.

Died

Margraten, Netherlands 24 March 1945 Operation Varsity.

Other

Killed in Action (KIA)

Hamminkeln, Germany 24 March 1945 LT Gaudet was the copilot of “Queen of Angels,” B-24 tail #42-50735, of the 446th Bomb Group, 704th Bomb Squadron, when it went down over Hamminkeln, Germany, on March 24, 1945 during Operation Varsity at 13:26. (1:26 p.m.)

Buried/ Commemorated

He is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, Holland.

Revisions

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Betsy Keenen Walker

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Betsy Keenen Walker

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FOLD3 website

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Lt./Col. Alan W. Keenen (USAF, Ret.)

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Netherlands American Cemetery

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Netherlands American Cemetery

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Netherlands American Cemetery

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Netherlands American Cemetery

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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.

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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13516 / MACR 14181 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Merlin Philip Gaudet: Gallery (4 items)