Merlyn Pershing Wilson

Military

Shot down 19 May 1944 in B-17 #42-39783. Captured near Kletkamp, Germany on 21 May 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.

379th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Clayton Willard Bates

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13068908
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
Staff-Sergeant Robert J Brockman of the 379th Bomb Group paints a mission marking onto the nose of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-39783, nicknamed "Blues in the Knight". Image stamped on reverse: 'International News Photos.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publciation 6 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '314922.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '' HB 35. S/Sgt. Robert Brackman chalks up 38th Bomb on "Blues in the night" ( See above for details).'

Robert James Brockman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35310857
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief

Wayne Milson Davis

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19115504
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Frederick Albert Lee High

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-707054
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Henry Patrick McGreevy

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20153772 at enlistment, then O-757896
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Aircraft

Staff-Sergeant Robert J Brockman of the 379th Bomb Group paints a mission marking onto the nose of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-39783, nicknamed "Blues in the Knight". Image stamped on reverse: 'International News Photos.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publciation 6 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '314922.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '' HB 35. S/Sgt. Robert Brackman chalks up 38th Bomb on "Blues in the night" ( See above for details).'

42-39783

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Blues in the Knight
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Miles City, Custer County, Montana, United States 14 December 1918

Other

Bailed out

19 May 1944 of B-17 #42-39783 over Blekendorf, Germany

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 21 May 1944 captured on 21 May near Kletkamp, Germany. Interned mainly at Stalag Luft 3 in Sagan/Zagan, Poland. NARA WWII POW record : “Returned to Military Control ‘28 February 1946’”.

Other

Re-enlisted

Los Angeles, California 23 April 1946 as a Master Sergeant in the Air Corps

Died

14 September 1967
Los Angeles, California

Buried

Merlyn P. Wilson rests at the Happy Homestead Cemetery in South Lake Tahoe, California

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card
NARA WWII POW records
Son Merlyn Robert Wilson (2002)

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

Middle name from son Merlyn Robert Wilson (2002 posting on the axpow.org message board)
MACR 4929
German report KU-1889 at https://catalog.archives.gov/id/147877998

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4929 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database