Gerow, Francis (NMI)

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Gerow, Francis (NMI) ‡ ⇗
Rank	Sergeant / Technical Sergeant
Serial Number	16024140 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 546th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #365 dated 31 December 1942, effective 31 December 1942.
Duty	Radio Operator / Gunner
Last Duty Date	18 December 1943
Results	Completed Combat Tour
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 7 January 1921 Appointed Staff Sergeant effective 15 June 1943 per 546th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 18 June 1943. Promoted to Technical Sergeant per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #49 dated 15 July 1943. Placed on Temporary Duty for seven days to the American Red Cross Club, Southport (a flak house) on or about 27 August 1943 per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #81 dated 25 August 1943.
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
546^th BOMB SQUADRON MODEL CREW
The first combat crew assigned to the squadron.
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
2nd Lt. Algar, Philip Morris⇗	Pilot	CT
Flt. Ofcr. Wolf, Richard Vance⇗	Co-pilot	CT
2nd Lt. Celentano, Frank A⇗	Navigator	CT
2nd Lt. McClanahan, James Clifton⇗	Bombardier	TR
SGT. Gerow, Francis (NMI)	Radio Operator / Gunner	CT
SGT. Laviolette, Roland Bernard⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	CT
PVT. McKay, Kenneth Mitchel, Jr⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	CT
SGT. Schimenek, John Francis⇗	Tail Gunner	CT
S/SGT. Majewski, Casmer Robert⇗	Flexible Gunner	CT
S/SGT. Miller, Loring Corwin⇗	Flexible Gunner	WIA

Crew History

The Algar Crew was the first one to be assigned to the 546th BS of the 384th BG - becoming its "Model Crew" and "Crew 61" (crew #1 of the 546th) - on 31 December 1942 at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, with Wolf and Schimenick joining in January 1943. They flew to Wendover a few days after the ground echelon entrained for the transfer.
It would appear this crew remained intact during stateside training, and went into combat together, flying all missions until late July without changes. Thereafter, mission demands led to frequent substitutions, although many crew members continued flying together until the ends of their tours.

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 25 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
1⇗	22 June 1943	Target: General Motors Truck Factory Type: Industry Location: Antwerp, Belgium	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
2⇗	25 June 1943	Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back after windshield motor burned out and cockpit filled with smoke, causing the pilot to lose contact with the formation. Sortie Report⇗
3⇗	26 June 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
4⇗	28 June 1943	Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
6⇗	4 July 1943	Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
7⇗	10 July 1943	Target: Drucat Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Abbeville, France	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
8⇗	14 July 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
10⇗	25 July 1943	Target: Blohm & Voss Aircraft Works and Shipyard Type: Industry Location: Hamburg, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
11⇗	28 July 1943	Target: Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑3259⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
13⇗	30 July 1943	Target: Aircraft Assembly Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Kassel, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Group lead. Sortie Report⇗
14⇗	12 August 1943	Target: Synthetic Fuel Hydrogenation Plant Type: Industry Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Lead Squadron #2 position. Sortie Report⇗
15⇗	15 August 1943	Target: Poix-en-Picardie and Amiens-Glisy Airfields Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Poix-de-Picardie & Amiens, France	Radio Operator	42‑3440⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron lead. Sortie Report⇗
17⇗	17 August 1943	Target: Ball-Bearing Plant Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑3455⇗	Combat Mission Credit S/Sgt. Loring Miller, right waist gunner, awarded Silver Star (As Briefed, p. 198). Sortie Report⇗
21⇗	6 September 1943	Type: Industry Location: Stuttgart, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Landed away at West Malling, Kent, due to low fuel. Sortie Report⇗
22⇗	7 September 1943	Target: Bruxelles-Evere Airfield/Repair Depot Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Brussels / Bruxelles, Belgium	Radio Operator	42‑3440⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Low sqaudron lead. Sortie Report⇗
23⇗	9 September 1943	Target: Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Lille-Vendeville, France	Radio Operator	42‑29935⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
24⇗	16 September 1943	Target: Blockade Runner Ship (in Loire River) Type: Transportation Location: Nantes, France	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Landed away at RAF Colerne, Wiltshire. Sortie Report⇗
25⇗	23 September 1943	Target: Submarine Repair Ship Type: Submarine Facility Location: Nantes, France	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Group Lead. Landed away at RAF Warmwell, Dorset, due to low fuel. Sortie Report⇗
28⇗	4 October 1943	Type: Industry Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑3218⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron lead. Sortie Report⇗
32⇗	14 October 1943	Target: Ball-Bearing Factory Type: Bearings Industry Location: Schweinfurt, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑30026⇗	Combat Mission Credit Group lead. Only plane to return to Grafton Underwood. Sortie Report⇗
--⇗	30 October 1943	Target: Marshaling Yard Type: Transportation Location: Geilenkirchen, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑29723⇗	Sortie Report⇗
34⇗	3 November 1943	Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Wilhelmshafen, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑29636⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
35⇗	5 November 1943	Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards Type: Transportation Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑37848⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
38⇗	29 November 1943	Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑37848⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
39⇗	1 December 1943	Target: Non-Ferrous Metals Plant Type: Industry Location: Solingen, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑37848⇗	Combat Mission Credit Landed away at RAF Waterbeach, Cambs. Sortie Report⇗
40⇗	5 December 1943	Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Saint-Jean-d'Angély, France	Radio Operator	42‑31222⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off High Squadron deputy; aborted due to a "broken piston head in #2 engine." Sortie Report⇗
41⇗	11 December 1943	Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Emden, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑31211⇗	Combat Mission Credit High Squadron deputy. Sortie Report⇗
42⇗	13 December 1943	Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑31211⇗	Combat Mission Credit Lead group. Sortie Report⇗
43⇗	16 December 1943	Target: Port Area Type: Transportation Location: Bremen, Germany	Radio Operator	42‑3429⇗	Combat Mission Credit Group lead. Sortie Report⇗

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