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Gerber, Leonard (NMI)

Individual Personnel Data
Name Gerber, Leonard (NMI)   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-688523   ‡
Unit Assignments
  • Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #164 dated 10 December 1943, effective 10 December 1943.
  • Assigned to the 547th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #167 dated 13 December 1943, effective 13 December 1943.
Duty Bombardier
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 11 February 1944
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag Luft 1 Barth-Vogelsang Prussia 54-12
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 18 September 1916
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at San Angelo AAF, San Angelo, Texas, Class #43-11, 5 August 1943.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 2529⇓ (12.848 MB)



Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Bennett, Phillip Nathan, Jr⇗PilotCT
2nd Lt. Haley, Ralph Bernard⇗Co-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. Monfort, Robert Hugh⇗NavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Gerber, Leonard (NMI)BombardierPOW
S/SGT. House, Harland Francis⇗Radio Operator / GunnerCT
S/SGT. Whitley, William Martin⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Mosbey, James Millard⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Mize, Walter Alvest, Jr⇗Tail GunnerEV
SGT. Santosuosso, John Peter⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Boon, Howard Goodall, Jr⇗Flexible GunnerPOW

Crew History

The P Y Bennett Crew joined the 547th BS at Grafton Underwood on 10 December 1943. On assignment, it appears that the Bennett Crew was split between the 545th and 547th squadrons. Those originally assigned to the 545th were transferred to the 547th BS on SO #167 dated 13 December 1943. Even though this brought the crew into the same unit, the men originally assigned to the 545th never flew missions with Bennett.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 6 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
47⇗ 30 December 1943 Target: I. G. Farben Industrie, Chemical/Synthetic Rubber Plants
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑37924⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
48⇗ 31 December 1943 Target: Blockade Runner 'Orsone' (name of ship)
Type: Transportation
Location: [Mouth of River Garonne], France 		Bombardier 42‑37924⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Landed away at Molesworth; bombs jettisoned.
Sortie Report⇗
51⇗ 7 January 1944 Target: Powerhouse
Type: Industry
Location: Ludwigshafen, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑3087⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
60⇗ 6 February 1944 Target: Nancy/Essey Aerodrome
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Nancy, France 		Bombardier 42‑39962⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report⇗
61⇗ 8 February 1944 Target: Piston Ring Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39962⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report⇗
62⇗ 11 February 1944 Target: Propeller Factory (Foundry)
Type: Aircraft Industry
Location: Frankfurt am Main, Germany 		Bombardier 42‑39962⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Last seen approaching French Coast making a left turn losing altitude, going into a steep spiral and into a dive at 10,000 ft; fire in bomb-bay, from several accounts in the MACR; crashed near Saint-Vaast-d'Équiqueville, France. MACR 2529
Sortie Report⇗

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