Erickson, Gordon Bennett

Individual Personnel Data
Name	Erickson, Gordon Bennett ‡ ⇗
Rank	Flight Officer / Second Lieutenant
Serial Number	O-2044717 ‡
Unit Assignments	Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #70 dated 11 March 1943, effective 11 March 1943. Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per 547th Bomb Squadron Morning Report Dated 3 September 1943, effective 3 September 1943. Transferred to the Headquarters, 1st Bomb Wing, per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 2 October 1943, effective 26 September 1943.
Duty	Pilot
MOS	1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date	4 July 1943
Results	Evaded Capture
Decorations	Awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received on 4 July 1943 per General Orders #133, Headquarters 8th Air Force dated 19 September 1943.
Additional Information	Date of Birth: 31 March 1919 Gordon B. Erickson was shot down on 4 July 1943. He evaded capture and was returned to Allied Control on 13 August 1943 at Gibraltar, UK. He was reassigned to the 384th Bomb Group, 547th Bomb Squadron on 3 September 1943 and placed on Temporary Duty to Headquarters, 8th Air Force (G-2 Section) on 3 September 1943. Appointed Second Lieutenant per 544th Bomb Squadron Morning Report dated 21 September 1943.
Related Documents	Escape & Evasion Report # 65⇓ (7.840 MB) Post Loss Document File #5⇗ Erickson Crew Story⇗
Photo Album:	Crew Photo Album⇗

Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384^th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER	POSITION	RESULTS
Flt. Ofcr. Erickson, Gordon Bennett	Pilot	EV
2nd Lt. Dartt, Clifford Charles⇗	Co-pilot	POW
2nd Lt. Hackley, Francis Mercer⇗	Navigator	KIA
2nd Lt. Irvine, Donald Wesley⇗	Bombardier	KIA
S/SGT. Welch, Paul Gerald⇗	Radio Operator / Gunner	POW
S/SGT. Penly, Robert Horace⇗	Engineer / Top Turret Gunner	EV
S/SGT. Reandeau, Lawrence Joseph⇗	Ball Turret Gunner	POW
CPL. Mankowitz, Charles (NMI)⇗	Tail Gunner	EV
S/SGT. Wingerter, Frank Jacob⇗	Flexible Gunner	EV
CPL. Coburn, James P⇗	Flexible Gunner	TR

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 3 Combat Missions.
Number	Date	Target	Position	Aircraft	Mission/Sortie Information
2⇗	25 June 1943	Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens Type: Military Location: Hamburg, Germany	Pilot	42‑29960⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Initially took off at 0553-1/2, landed at 0618, then took off again at 0630; reasons for this are unknown. Returned to base due to weather conditions; pilot was unable to maintain contact with the formation. Sortie Report⇗
3⇗	26 June 1943	Target: Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Pilot	42‑29960⇗	Combat Mission Credit Low Squadron Deputy. Sortie Report⇗
4⇗	28 June 1943	Target: Fighter Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Beaumont-le-Roger, France	Pilot	42‑29960⇗	Aborted Mission After Taking Off Turned back with #1 oil cooler leaking; top turret and ball turret problems. Sortie Report⇗
5⇗	29 June 1943	Target: duNord Aircraft Works, Villacoublay Airfield Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe) Location: Paris, France	Pilot	42‑30030⇗	Combat Mission Credit Sortie Report⇗
6⇗	4 July 1943	Target: Gnome et Rhone Aircraft Engine Plant Type: Aircraft Industry Location: Le Mans, France	Pilot	42‑29960⇗	Combat Mission Credit Failed To Return Low Squadron Deputy. Damaged by flak after the target, then further attacked by Me-109s; crashed near Belfonds, France. No MACR Sortie Report⇗

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