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Submit- Full
name
ESSER, Gerald Wendel - Date of
birth
4 October 1924 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Illinois -
Hometown
Aurora, Kane County, Illinois
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-704908 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Co-Pilot -
Unit
751st Bombardment Squadron,
457th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
10 September 1944 - Place of
death
Near Gaggenau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 11 | 47 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Wendell G. Esser (father)
Mildred (Phillips) Esser (mother)
Elayne M. Esser (sister)
June L. Esser (sister)
Alan C. Esser (brother)
Gordon W. Esser (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97456 -
Data
Type: B-17
Nickname: Mighty Little John
Destination: Gaggenau, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Daimler-Benz motor vehicle factory
MACR: 15928
More information
2nd Lt Gerald W. Esser graduated from Marmion Military Academy in 1942 and attended Purdue University.He joined the U.S. Army Reserve in Lafayette, Indiana on 7 December 1942.
After the bomb run, B-17 42-97451, piloted by Harry Gay, was blinded by the sun and pulled up, hitting B-17 42-97456. The plane of Harry Gay was damaged but managed to return to base.
Eight crew members were killed. Only the navigator, 2nd Lt Jerome W. Page and the tail gunner, Sgt Jacob Z. Chimerinsky managed to bail out and were taken prisoner.
The plane broke in two either just behind the radio compartment, by the rear door of behind the tail weel. The front part went down like a falling leaf and exploded on the ground.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans,Terry Hirsch, Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, Homepage - The 457th Bomb Group (H) Association (457thbombgroupassoc.org), www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Marmion Military Academy yearbook 1942
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Record of Aurora in World War II, Arie-Jan van Hees, Pilot Class Book 44-A, Blackland Army Air Field, Arizona, Pilot Class book 44-A, Stamford AFS, Texas, www.ancestry.com - Marmion Military Academy yearbook 1942