World War II Honoree

Richard E. Gerstein

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Miami, Florida

Honored By

Craig H. Coller

Relationship

Nephew

SERVED AS A NAVIGATOR ON A B-17. RICHARD GERSTEIN'S PLANE TOOK A DIRECT HIT FROM FLAK WHILE FLYING OVER THE TWIN CITIES OF LUDIGSHAVEN AND MANNHEIM KNOCKING OUT TWO OF THE ENGINES ON THE SAME SIDE OF THE PLANE, AS WELL AS ITS RADIO AND VITAL INSTRUMENTS . LIEUTENANT GERSTEIN WAS SEVERELY WOUNDED AND ALMOST TOTALLY BLINDED BY HIS INJURIES. BARELY ALIVE AND FIGHTING OFF UNCONSCIOUSNESS, HE GUIDED HIS PILOT ON TO THE PROPER COURSE. HE RECEIVED THE PURPLE HEART, AIR MEDAL AND DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS.