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name
GERKE, Wright Ellis - Date of
birth
2 February 1919 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Camden, Camden County, New Jersey -
Hometown
Pennsauken, Camden County, New Jersey
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-523518 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
366th Bombardment Squadron,
305th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 August 1943 - Place of
death
Near Mönchengladbach, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| O | 6 | 6 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Henry J. Gerke Sr. (father)
Ida F. (Fox) Gerke (mother)
Henry J. Gerke Jr. (brother)
Matilda G. Gerke (sister)
Martha Gerke (sister)
Livinia E. (Farquhar) Gerke (wife)
Dona Gerke (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29553 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Arkie II
Target: Gelsenkirchen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil plant
MACR: 252
More information
Wright E. Gerke graduated from Merchantville High School in 1938 and attended Drexel Institute.He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in Camden, New Jersey on 9 July 1941.
He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on the day he was killed. He has been listed as a 2nd Lieutenant though, and his grave marker mentions 2nd Lt. as well.
Note: Wright’s best friend Joseph S. Costa was a member of the same crew.
The airplane was hit by flak and attacked by enemy fighters. Eight crew members were killed, two men survived and were taken prisoner.
2nd Lt Gerke is remembered at Bethel Memorial Park in Pennsauken, Camden County, New Jersey with a memorial marker.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, the MacDowell-Gerke family, Terry Hirsch, www.fold3.com - MACR
Photo source: Tom Verheijden, the MacDowell-Gerke family, Courier Post - 18 September 1943, www.findagrave.com - brenirish