World War II Honoree

Melvin H. Gerhold

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Col. Ronald L. Albers, USAF (Ret)

Relationship

Friend

ENLISTED IN U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS IN MARCH 1942. FLEW COMBAT MISSIONS OVER GERMANY AS A BALL TURRET GUNNER ON THE B-17G AIRCRAFT WITH THE 384TH BOMB GROUP FROM UPPER HEYFORD ROYAL AIR BASE, ENGLAND FROM APRIL TO JULY 1944. ON JULY 12, 1944 (HIS 29TH MISSION) HIS AIRCRAFT (ACES & EIGHTS), WAS SHOT DOWN OVER MUNICH BY FLAK; 4 OF THE 9 CREW MEMBERS DIED IN THE INCIDENT. HE PARACHUTED TO SAFETY, ONLY TO BE CAPTURED AND INTERNED BY THE GERMANS AS A POW UNTIL HE WAS RELEASED ON APRIL 30, 1945. HE CONTINUED TO SERVE IN THE AIR FORCE UNTIL RETIRING IN 1966. RECEIVED THE AIR MEDAL WITH 3 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, THE POW MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN THEATER RIBBON WITH 3 BATTLE STARS AND NUMEROUS OTHER AWARDS.