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Personal info

Full name
GAUDET, Merlin Phillip
Date of birth
12 November 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Osceola County, Florida
Hometown
Metuchen, Middlesex County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
O-2059148
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
704th Bombardment Squadron,
446th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
24 March 1945
Place of death
Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
L 20 11

Immediate family

Members
Gable T. Gaudet (father)
Lucille (McCormick) Gaudet (mother)
Floyed Gaudet (brother)
Juanita Gaudet (sister)
Marion E. Gaudet (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-50735
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Queen of Angels
Destination: Drop Zone B, north of Wesel, Germany
Mission: Supply drop
MACR: 14181

More information

2nd Lt Merlin P. Gaudet graduated from Metuchen High School in 1938 and was employed at General Cable Corporation.

The group dropped supplies to British ground troops on a low-level mission. Flying at 300 to 700 feet, the planes were met by small arms and light artillery fire and 3 were shot down. "Queen of Angels" (42-50735) went down, killing 8 crewmen with 1 more returning safely (Alan W. Keenen). #42-50735 was seen in target area with #3 engine on fire. 2 Crew members seen to bail out, only one chute opened. Aircraft burst into flames as it crashed in target area at 1326 hours at 300 feet.

Source of information: Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.446bg.com, www.fold3.com MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Philippe Smeets, http://www.446bg.com/missions/missions_photos/3_45photos.htm, Metuchen High School 1938