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Personal info

Full name
GERBER, Cecil Marvin
Date of birth
2 October 1921
Age
22
Place of birth
McKeesport, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Hagerstown, Washington County, Maryland

Military service

Service number
O-799378
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
364th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
22 May 1944
Place of death
Navy yard
Kiel, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
B 37 50

Immediate family

Members
Max Gerber (father)
Rose Gerber (mother)
Gayle Gerber (sister)
Ruth I. Gerber (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-37979
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Bayou Gall
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the navy yard
MACR: 4951

More information

1st Lt Cecil M. Gerber graduated from Hagerstown High School in 1939.

The aircraft was hit by flak and was reported to have blown up, after it had left the formation with one wing a solid mass of flames. No parachutes were seen. All 10 crewmembers were killed.

Lt Gerber was initially buried at the Garrison Cemetery in Kiel on 29 June 1944.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - WWII Jewish Serviceman Card,
www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Jac Engels, Hagerstown High School, 1939, The Morning Herald - 05 June 1944