Gerald C Erdahl
MilitarySSgt Gerald Erdahl (RT Waist) Survived his final mission to the synthetic rubber plant located at Hulls Germany on June 22, 1943. Enemy aircraft attacked the formation at approximately 09:15AM just prior to their reaching the IP of their bomb run. His B17F 42-29946 was damaged by 20 mm cannon fire causing the aircraft to spin, tumble and crash. 2nd Lt Walter J Nachtwey Co Pilot stated that some of the crew unable to contact either Captain Dollarhide or himself was able to exit the airplane via the waist door prior to the plane spinning completely out of control. Captured he remained a Prisoner of War for the duration.
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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
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 22 June 1943
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1294 / MACR 1294; The 379th Bombardier Group Anthology, pg 265 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database