| 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 |
| MOS | 1035 - 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 |
|
| Related Documents | Missing Air Crew Report # 11128⇓ (48.071 MB) Accident Report # 44-10-12-521⇓ (3.499 MB) |
| CREWMEMBER | POSITION | RESULTS |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Lt. Holmes, George W⇗ | Pilot | CT |
| 2nd Lt. Mohr, James Henry⇗ | Co-pilot | CT |
| 2nd Lt. Mason, Mark NMI⇗ | Navigator | CT |
| 2nd Lt. Gerlach, Menceslaus Anthony | Bombardier | KIA |
| CPL. Burke, John Joseph⇗ | Radio Operator / Gunner | CT |
| CPL. Preble, James Jarvis⇗ | Engineer / Top Turret Gunner | CT |
| CPL. Hensley, Clyde Wilburn⇗ | Ball Turret Gunner | TR |
| CPL. Harshman, William Everett⇗ | Tail Gunner | CT |
| CPL. Applegate, William Charles⇗ | Flexible Gunner | CT |
| CPL. Hultberg, Stanley Robert⇗ | Flexible Gunner | CT |
| 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⇗ |