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name
GILDOW, George J - Date of
birth
6 December 1920 -
Age
24 - Place of
birth
Ohio -
Hometown
Washington County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-762996 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
428th Fighter Squadron,
474th Fighter Group
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
17 December 1944 - Place of
death
Near Geroldstein, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 28 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
George W. Gildow (father)
Dorothy G. (Wooster) Gildow (mother)
Sarah Gilldow (sister)
Eugene P. Gildow (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-68082 -
Data
Type: P-38J
Destination: L-1933
Mission: Strafing
MACR: 11017
More information
2nd Lt George J. Gildow graduated from the University of Akron in 1942.He enlisted in the service on 7 December 1942.
Statement from 2nd Lt Alexander Zeece
The squadron took off at 1402 on an armed recce on 17 December 1944. I was flying yellow two when, at approximately 1530 hours in the vicinity of L2383, we were bounced by two / groups of FW 190's, total 57 plus, called in by Marmite. I stayed with the flight until direct hits on both wings caused me to spin. I saw one P-38 burning, right engine blazing and going down in a 30 degree dive, and another 38 went down rolling under me. I didn’t follow them down or try to look for the outcome as I was being fired upon. Altitude 8,000 feet.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Family Trees, www.fold3.com - MACR, http://www.enivation.com - The Laurel of Phi Kappa Tau February 1945
Photo source: www.findagrave.com, http://www.enivation.com - The Laurel of Phi Kappa Tau February 1945