2024 MEMBERSHIP
 JOIN OR RENEW NOW
 MEMBER APPLICATION FORM

Merfeld, Louis Leonard

Individual Personnel Data
Name Merfeld, Louis Leonard   
Rank Corporal / Sergeant
Serial Number 37680091   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #157 dated 5 August 1944, effective 5 August 1944.
Duty Flexible Gunner
MOS611 - Aerial Gunner
Last Duty Date 11 September 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium: Plot A Row 25 Grave 6
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 14 November 1919
  • Promoted to Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #165 dated 17 August 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 8903 (10.331 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Chadwick, James WoodrowPilotKIA
2nd Lt. Grantham, Edgar HarryCo-pilotKIA
2nd Lt. White, Leslie ComerNavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Verbryke, Robert MerrillBombardierKIA
CPL. Mulvey, Lawrence VernonRadio Operator / GunnerCT
CPL. Brown, Virgil DarrahEngineer / Top Turret GunnerKIA
CPL. Schoonover, Henry KermitBall Turret GunnerKIA
CPL. Klumpp, Kenneth BernardTail GunnerPOW
CPL. Merfeld, Louis LeonardFlexible GunnerKIA
CPL. Atkins, Byron Leverne, "BUD"Flexible GunnerKIA

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 9 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
183 24 August 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil & Chemical Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Merseburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 44‑6135 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron deputy, lead group.
Sortie Report
184 25 August 1944 Target: Airfield & Airpark
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Anklam, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102566 Combat Mission Credit
High section deputy, low group.
Sortie Report
185 26 August 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
High group hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
187 3 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
188 5 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑97521. High group flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
189 8 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
190 9 September 1944 Target: I. G. Farben Chemical Works
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97521 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
191 10 September 1944 Target: BMW Motor Component Parts Plant
Type: Industry
Location: Sindelfingen, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑97941 Combat Mission Credit
Lead Ground Spare Aircraft, replaced 42‑97521; see 42‑97521 for details. Returned with wounded aboard.
Sortie Report
192 11 September 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Lützkendorf & Merseburg, Germany
Waist (Flexible) Gunner 42‑107058 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
41B Group, Aircraft received a direct flak burst, at 1208 hours near the primary target, in bomb bay; immediately released bombs and caught on fire; dived to 18,000 feet and levelled off; lost to sight; flak, crashed near Halle, Germany; MACR 8903.
Sortie Report

Every effort has been expended to ensure all information on this page is complete and accurate.
Please inform webmaster of any discrepancies or omissions by using the button below.