Ruud Herbert Gilman

Monuments

Fallen Bombers in Médoc Information Boards

Fallen Bombers in Médoc Monument

Name:

Herbert Gilman Ruud

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

39186613

Unit:

337th Bomber Squadron, 96th Bomber Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

2012-03-26

State:

Washington

Cemetery:

Floral Hills Cemetery, Lynnwood, Snohomish County, Washington

Plot:

Evergreen Garden

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Comments:

Herbert Gilman Ruud was born on June 20, 1920. He served in the 337th Bomber Squadron, 96th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Mechanic/Gunner on the B-17 #42-31164 'Lucky Lady' during World War II.

On January 5, 1944, his crew took off from Station 138 airfield in Snetterton Heath, England, for a mission to bomb the Bordeaux-Mérignac airfield in France. Shot down by flak at around 11:00 AM, they evacuated their plane by parachute. Their aircraft crashed in the Hourtin Lake, District of Lesparre-Médoc, France. Of the crew, three members were captured by the Germans and taken as prisoners, 6 evaded the capture, and one casualty in the incident. SSgt Ruud was one of the evadees. He returned to the UK on March 2, 1944.

SSgt Ruud returned to Seattle, where he lived the rest of his life. He died on March 26, 2012, at the age of 91. He is now buried in the Floral Hills Cemetery, Lynnwood, Snohomish County, Washington, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net