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name
GEHRKE, Walter - Date of
birth
28 February 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Detroit, Wayne County, Michigan -
Hometown
Pleasant Ridge, Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-821689 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
328th Fighter Squadron,
352nd Fighter Group
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 August 1944 - Place of
death
500 meter east of Karse, 22 km northeast of Lüneburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 3 | 7 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Walter L. Gehrke (father)
Ruth A. (Ransford) Gehrke (mother)
Ann E. Gehrke (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-103787 -
Data
Type: P-51-C-10
Destination: Germany
Mission: Bomber escort and ramrod
MACR: 7441
More information
Walter Gehrke and his sister Ann were the adopted children of Walter and Ruth Gehrke.He graduated from Morgan Park Military Academy in Chicago in 1942.
He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Selfridge Field, Michigan, on 20 February 1943 and received his commission on 8 January 1944.
Statement of 1st Lt Charles J. Cesny, who was flying in the same group: "In the vicinity of Luneburg, 40+ ME 109mphs made an attack on the bombers. We made an initial attack on the bandits. Lt Gehrke started following a ME 109. I followed Lt Gehrke and the enemy aircraft. At about 16,000 feet, going 450 mph, his wing broke, and I observed him going down in a spin. I did not observe any parachute."
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Family Tree / 1930 Census, www.newspapers.com - Detroit Free Press
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.newspapers.com - Detroit Free Press, Morgan Park Military Academy - Memorial