Wright Ellis Gerke
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
USAAF Photo
Object Number - UPL 54795 - 2nd Lt Wright Gerke, 305BG
Assigned to 366BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 12-Aug-43 in B-17 42-29553 'Arkie'. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 252
Awards: AM, PH.
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: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14076877 / O-735885
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 366th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Camden, NJ, USA | 2 February 1919 | Son of Henry J and Ida F [Cox] Gerke. Husband of Lavinia E Farquhar. |
|
Enlisted |
Camden, NJ | 9 July 1941 | Camden New Jersey |
|
Died Killed in Action (KIA) |
Mönchengladbach, Germany | 12 August 1943 | Tragically, Second Lieutenant Gerke was shot down during a daylight raid on Gelsenkirchen, Germany on August 12, 1943. 20 planes took off on this raid, two returned early and only Lieutenant Gerke's plane failed to return. Five other aircraft asustained serious damage during this raid. Lieutenant Gerke was piloting the B17F known as "ARKY", serial number 42-29553. Reports state that the bomber observed at 0855 being hit by flak and dropping out of formation. It was was immediately attacked by 5 or 6 fighters. The plane was seen going down on fire with at least three parachutes seen. Although three parachutes were seen, only Staff Sergeants Fullerton and Chalker were taken prisoner, all others were killed either in the plane or when the plane crashed near Monchen-Gladbach, Germany. Both he, Joseph Costa, Second Lieutenant Thomas Read, the co-pilot, Second Lieutenant Jack J. Little, the bombardier, Staff Sergeant Joseph J. Hall, the tail gunner, Staff Sergeant Herbert A. Kalwa and Staff Sergeant Rowlinson, waist gunners, and Staff Sergeant Edward F. Keesling, the ball turret gunner, were killed. Radio operator Staff Sergeant James L. Chalker and top gunner Technical Sergeant Harry Fullerton managed to parachute to the ground and were taken prisoner by the Germans. After the war Wright Gerke's remains were recovered, and were buried at the American military cemetery in Margareten, Holland after the war with the other members of his crew that had been killed. |
|
Buried |
Netherlands American Cemetery | Re-Interred Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands Plot O Row 6 Grave 6 | |
| Merchantville, NJ, USA | 141 East Park Avenue | ||
|
Other Pilot training |
Camden AAF, SC | Basic Flight training - Camden, South Carolina. | |
|
Other Pilot training |
Augusta AAF, GA | Advanced Flight training - Augusta, Georgia | |
|
Based |
Chelveston | 12 August 1943 | Assigned to 366BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 252 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
