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358th G.A. White Crew Gerald A. White, Pilot

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GERALD A. WHITE CREW - 358th BS
(Assigned 358BS: 16 January 1944 - photo: USA Training)

(Front L-R) Capt Gerald A White (P)(KIA), 2Lt Walter W. Newsom (CP)(KIA),
2Lt Erwin A. Kruse (N)(KIA), 2Lt Warren Stafford, Jr. (B)(KIA)

(Back L-R) S/Sgt Sidney L. Bottomley (E)(KIA), Sgt Ralph W. Slate (BTG)(KIA),
S/Sgt Louis E. Znidersich (R)(KIA), Sgt Wallace E. Becknell (RWG)(KIA),
Sgt Robert E. McCoy (TG)(KIA), Sgt Alexander J. Quinlan (LWG)(KIA)

Crew Note:
The entire Gerald A. White Crew was killed on their first and only combat mission. Mission #103, 3 February 1944 to Wilhelmshaven, Germany in B-17G #42-37927 (no name) (358th BS) VK-P which was flying on her 11th mission. The B-17 was last seen after leaving the target and peeling off from the formation as to penetrate the overcast. It rolled over on its back and headed straight down. It crashed into the North Sea and no bodies were recovered.

[photo courtesy of Sherrie Shelton, niece of Earl Becknell]
[Researched by Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]