Gatling Herbert M.

Name:

Herbert M. Gatling

Rank:

Sergeant

Serial Number:

33851772

Unit:

783rd Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomb Group

Date of Death:

1945-02-16

State:

Virginia

Cemetery:

Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France

Plot:

E

Row:

45

Grave:

23

Decoration:

Air Medal, Purple Heart

Comments:

Herbert M. Gatling was born on June 2, 1921, in North Carolina. He was the son of Grover Cleveland Gatling and Nell M. Gatling. He was an aviation metalsmith before being inducted into the service on September 29, 1943. He served in the 783rd Bomber Squadron, 465th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Gunner of B-24J Liberator #42-51871 during World War II.

On February 16, 1945, while carrying out a bombing mission over Regensburg, Germany, the aircraft was struck by flak, causing it to catch fire and explode in mid-air near Haselbach, Bavaria. Seven crew members were killed, while the two survivors were captured and taken as prisoners of war.

Sgt Gatling was among those who lost their lives in the crash and is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial, Saint-Avold, Departement de la Moselle, Lorraine, France.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, ak-heimatgeschichte.mitterfels-online.de