Gerlach, Menceslaus Anthony

Individual Personnel Data
Name Gerlach, Menceslaus Anthony   
Rank Second Lieutenant / First Lieutenant
Serial Number O-722778   
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 545th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per AAF Station 106 Special Orders #190 dated 26 September 1944, effective 26 September 1944.
Duty Bombardier / Navigator
MOS1035 - Bombardier
Last Duty Date 30 November 1944
Results Killed In Action
Final Resting Place or Memorial: Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Illinois
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 3 August 1916
  • Graduated from Bombardier School at Childress AAF, Childress, Texas, Class #44-06, 29 April 1944.
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 11128 (48.071 MB)
Accident Report # 44-10-12-521 (3.499 MB)




Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Replacement Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Holmes, George WPilotCT
2nd Lt. Mohr, James HenryCo-pilotCT
2nd Lt. Mason, MarkNavigatorCT
2nd Lt. Gerlach, Menceslaus AnthonyBombardierKIA
CPL. Burke, John JosephRadio Operator / GunnerCT
CPL. Preble, James JarvisEngineer / Top Turret GunnerCT
CPL. Hensley, Clyde WilburnBall Turret GunnerTBD
CPL. Harshman, William EverettTail GunnerCT
CPL. Applegate, William CharlesFlexible GunnerCT
CPL. Hultberg, Stanley RobertFlexible GunnerCT

Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 18 Combat Missions.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
209 11 October 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Wesseling, Germany
Bombardier 43‑37917 Combat Mission Credit
Second Squadron.
Sortie Report
-- 12 October 1944 None
Non-combat sortie
Bombardier 43‑37717 A hard landing caused starboard main landing gear to collapse, resulting in damage to that side of the aircraft. There were no crew injuries.
Sortie Report
210 14 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Saarbrücken, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38678 Combat Mission Credit
Ground Spare Aircraft; replaced 42‑102518.
Sortie Report
211 15 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Bombardier 43‑37917 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
212 17 October 1944 Target: Railroad Marshalling Yards
Type: Transportation
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
213 18 October 1944 Target: Ford Motor Works
Type: Industry
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Bombardier 43‑37971 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
214 19 October 1944 Target: Heinrich Lanz Tank Factory
Type: Industry
Location: Mannheim, Germany
Bombardier 42‑102430 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report
215 25 October 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 42‑97309 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
217 1 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 43‑38823 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron.
Sortie Report
218 2 November 1944 Target: Ruhr-Chemie A.G. Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Sterkrade (Holten), Germany
Bombardier 43‑38823 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
219 4 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany
Bombardier 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship.
Sortie Report
221 6 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Bottrop (Welheim), Germany
Bombardier 43‑37917 Combat Mission Credit
Low Squadron flying spare; joined formation.
Sortie Report
223 9 November 1944 Target: Ground Installations
Type: Military
Location: Ouvrages de Sorbey (Metz), France
Bombardier 42‑32106 Combat Mission Credit
High Squadron.
Sortie Report
224 10 November 1944 Target: Ostheim Airfield & Butzweilerhof Airfield
Type: German Air Force (Luftwaffe)
Location: Cologne / Köln, Germany
Bombardier 43‑37717 Combat Mission Credit
41C Group, Lead Squadron.
Sortie Report
226 16 November 1944 Target: Tactical - Artillery Positions
Type: Military
Location: Eschweiler, Germany
Bombardier 43‑37717 Combat Mission Credit
Hot camera ship. Landed away at Stratford, due to weather.
Sortie Report
227 20 November 1944 Target: Buer Synthetic Oil Plant
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 43‑37717 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
228 23 November 1944 Target: Nordstern Coking Plant at Gelsenkirchener Bergwerks-A.G.
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Bombardier 43‑37717 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
232 29 November 1944 Target: Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Misburg, Germany
Navigator 42‑97271 Combat Mission Credit
Sortie Report
233 30 November 1944 Target: Synthetic Oil Refinery
Type: Oil Industry
Location: Zeitz, Germany
Navigator 44‑8409 Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
Received a direct flak burst and exploded in vicinity of primary target after bombs away.
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.