Name:
Gerald Franklin Gillies
Rank:
Technical Sergeant
Serial Number:
37540830
Unit:
322nd Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-08-08
State:
Kansas
Cemetery:
Fredonia City Cemetery, Fredonia, Kansas
Plot:
6
Row:
Grave:
1565-3
Decoration:
Purple Heart
Comments:
TSgt Gerald F. Gillies, tail gunner of the B-17 42-31367 “Chow Hound”, took off from Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, UK on a bombing mission over Bretteville-sur-Laize. An enemy “88” anti-aircraft burst of flak hit the aircraft, causing the tail section to separate from the fuselage. The main section was then seen to nose over and dove straight down in a spiral. The spin also caused a wing to separate and on striking the ground the aircraft burst into flames. He also has a cenotaph located in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA.