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Merlin Philip Gaudet

Military

  • 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

    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

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  • "Bangin' Lulu" a/c 42-51091

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  • Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Second Lieutenant Merlin Philip Gaudet of the 446th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman. If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk

    Extract from Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF) for Second Lieutenant Merlin Philip Gaudet of the 446th Bomb Group researched by historian Bill Beigel. The file contains copies of primary documents that discuss the return of personal effects, circumstances and causes of death, and memorialisation of the fallen airman. If you require access to the full, unedited file please contact Bill Beigel via his website, www.ww2research.com, or the AAM Team at aamwebsite@iwm.org.uk

    Show caption About this image
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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.

Service

People

  • Earle Cheek

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 446th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) near Wesel in B-24 'Queen of Angels' #4250735

  • William Clifton

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner/Engineer | 446th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) near northwest Wesel, Germany in B-24 'Queen of Angels' #42-50735 during Operation Varsity.

  • Thomas Davis

    Military | Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade) | Ball Turret Gunner | 446th Bomb Group

  • Fredrick Jacobs

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 446th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) near Wesel in B-24 'Queen of Angels' #42-50735

  • Alan Keenen

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner and Armorer (MOS 612) | 446th Bomb Group
    Lone survivor of B-24 'Queen of Angels' #42-50735. Sustaining burns from the on-board fire, Alan bailed out of the burning aircraft at an altitude of 100-150 ft. He broke his ankle upon landing. He was immediately captured by the Germans and was a POW...

  • Laurence Lofgren

    Military | First Lieutenant | Pilot | 446th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) northwest of Wesel, Germany in B-24 'Queen of Angels' #42-50735. He was also the pilot of the "Bangin' Lulu" #42-51091.

  • Robert Martinec

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Enlisted, Nose Gunner | 446th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) near Wesel in B-24 'Queen of Angels' #4250735

  • George Sankey

    Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator/Lead Squadron Navigator | 446th Bomb Group

  • Melvin Solomon

    Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 446th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) near Wesel in B-24 'Queen of Angels' #4250735 ...

  • Kenneth Stalder

    Military | Staff Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 446th Bomb Group
    Killed in Action (KIA) near Wesel in B-24 'Queen of Angels' #4250735

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Units served with

  • 446th Bomb Group

    446th Bomb Group

    Group
    The 446th Bomb Group, who came to be known as "the Bungay Buckaroos" after the name of their Suffolk base, flew B-24 Liberators on strategic, support and interdictory missions over Europe. The Group led the Eighth Air Force and 2nd Bomb Division on the...

  • 704th Bomb Squadron

    704th Bomb Squadron

    Squadron

Aircraft

Associated Place

  • Bungay

    Military site : airfield
    From late November 1943, the three bases of Bungay, Seething and Hardwick were the stations of the 20th Combat Wing of the Eighth Air Force. The base had previously housed individual squadrons of the 310th Bomb Group (Twelfth Air Force) and of the 93rd...

Events

Event Location Date
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.
Buried 1945

He is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, Holland.
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.)
Died Margraten, Netherlands 24 March 1945

Operation Varsity.
Nationality
American
Nickname
Merle
Service numbers
ASN 32450241 (enlisted); O-2059148 (officer)
Highest rank
Second Lieutenant
Role/job
Co-Pilot
Awards
  • Air Medal with 3 oak leaf clusters
  • Purple Heart

Revisions

Date Contributor Update
30 November 2015 04:41:32 gwap53 Changes to biography
Sources

Betsy Keenen Walker
Date Contributor Update
30 November 2015 04:40:04 gwap53 Changes to middlename, biography and events
Sources

Betsy Keenen Walker
Date Contributor Update
05 August 2015 13:13:06 gwap53 Changes to service number
Sources

FOLD3 website
Date Contributor Update
05 August 2015 04:38:10 gwap53 Changes to biography
Sources

Lt./Col. Alan W. Keenen (USAF, Ret.)
Date Contributor Update
05 August 2015 04:36:15 gwap53 Changes to events
Sources

Netherlands American Cemetery
Date Contributor Update
05 August 2015 02:51:58 gwap53 Changes to biography, events, person associations and place associations
Sources

Netherlands American Cemetery
Date Contributor Update
05 August 2015 02:37:09 gwap53 Changes to service number
Sources

Netherlands American Cemetery
Date Contributor Update
05 August 2015 02:35:49 gwap53 Changes to nickname and awards
Sources

Netherlands American Cemetery
Date Contributor Update
26 February 2015 04:59:06 WW2 Researcher Bill Beigel Changes to biography and events
Sources

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.
Date Contributor Update
27 September 2014 18:20:06 AAM AAM ingest
Sources

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

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