Capt Gerrick Clarence W 0-429635 POW on October 4 1943 in Belgium

[Alain57]

Hello ,

On October 4 1943 Capt Gerrick Clarence W 0-429635 became POW at the airfield of Coxyde Belgium. To me info he belonged to the 389BG. Further Lt Wilson George 0-755328 and S/Sgt Trumbly Albert F 3802458 were also made POW at the same place and date. Does omeone has some additiona linfo on this?

Regards
Alain57

[Stig Jarlevik]

Gerrick was the pilot onboard B-24D 42-72802

No info on the other two. The loss is oddly enough not in the book by Bishop & Hey

Cheers
Stig

[Alain57]

Thanks Stig

Alain57

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi Alain57,

See https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries...ry?id=26306407

No macr was made for his aircraft and crew.

Best regards

Luc

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi Alain 57,
The Tagesbericht for 4/10-1943 of the KTB of Kommadostab Militärbefehlshaber in Belgien und Nordfrankreich (RW36-5 p.488) mentions : (free translation)
16h40 An American Liberator bomber shot down near Coxyde. 6 members of the crew taken prisoner. Plane destroyed by fire.
During the evening emergency landing of a flak-damaged burning Liberator-bomber on Coxyde airfield. 6 Crewmembers taken prisoner.

Best regards

Luc

[Alain57]

Hi Luc,

Thanks for the reply.

Alain57

[Leendert]

This link may (also) be interesting: https://danmastersworldwar2.blogspot...areers-of.html

It appears that Gerrick's B-24 (s/n to be sorted out...) was returning from N. Africa to England. 567th BS was in process of ferrying back on 4 and 5 Oct 1943.
Of names of assigned crew SSgt. Leopold J. Paulin (31083126) and Lt George T. Martin (O-795999) may be added as POW of the B-24 at Coxyde (the blogspot spells it correctly as Koksijde!).
As already mentioned POWs Gerrick, Trumbly and Wilson (O-795328), they also were captured on 4 Oct 1943. This leaves the name of the 6th POW.
Please note that some of the NARA POW records state N. African theatre...

Also, 42-40701 is somehow recorded as 'MIA' on 4 Oct 1943 on the Cumulative Loss List for October 1943 and not SAL BD or SAL NBD.

This page from the 389th BG website says 3 Oct 1943 and 'training flight' for 42-72802: https://389thbg.com/chrono2.htm. "Training" a typo for "transfer"" here?
Cumulative loss list has MIA with date 4 Oct 1943 for 42-72802, but as unit 8th AF HQ.

Regards, Leendert

[Leendert]

Further my post #11, AFHRA Reel B0418 says on p. 322-323: "The same day that the crews returned, October 4th, a practice mission was being flown. Captain Gerrick, 567th Squadron, was leading; while over the North Sea, he became separated from the formation and for unknown reasons he failed to return. Later it was learned he was compelled to make a landing in enemy territory. Two of the six aboard, Capt. Gerrick and S/Sgt Paulin, are known to be prisoners of war."

A training flight after all...

Regards, Leendert

[Alain57]

Thanks Leendert for the replys
Alain57