Merlin Philip Gaudet
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Standing Back Row L to R: F/O James Froula; Lt. Merlin Gaudet; Lt. Laurence Lofgren; Lt. George Sankey
Middle Row L to R: T/Sgt. William Clifton; S/Sgt. Alan W. Keenen; S/Sgt. Kenneth "Joe" Stalder
Sitting Front Row L to R: S/Sgt. Thomas Davis; S/Sgt. Robert Martinec; T/Sgt. Melvin Solomon
Lt./Col. Alan W. Keenen (USAF, Ret.)
Object Number - UPL 17156 - Lt. Laurence R. Lofgren Crew c. 1944 Pueblo, CO Standing Back Row L to R: F/O James Froula; Lt. Merlin Gaudet; Lt. Laurence Lofgren; Lt. George...
Killed in Action (KIA) near northwest of Wesel, Germany in B-24 'Queen of Angels' #4250735.
2nd Lieutenant Merlin P. Gaudet was born November 12, 1920. His next of kin were his parents, Gabriel T. and Lucille Gaudet. His hometown was Metuchen, New Jersey.
Lt. Gaudet was the copilot of “Queen of Angels,” B-24 tail #42-50735, of the 446th Bomb Group, 704th Bomb Squadron, when it went down NW of Wesel, Germany, on March 24, 1945.
He is buried at the US Military Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, Netherlands. He was survived by his wife, Marion E. Gaudet, mother, brother, Floyd, and sister, Juanita. Lt. Gaudet was also the co-pilot on the "Bangin' Lulu' #42-51091 while at Bungay.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner/Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14202685
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 446th Bomb Group 704th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13200624
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner and Armorer (MOS 612)
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Flixton
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Saint Petersburg, FL, USA | 12 November 1920 | 2nd Lieutenant Merlin P. Gaudet was born November 12, 1920. His next of kin were his father, Gabriel T. and mother, Lucille Gaudet. His hometown was Metuchen, New Jersey. |
|
Died |
Margraten, Netherlands | 24 March 1945 | Operation Varsity. |
|
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
Hamminkeln, Germany | 24 March 1945 | LT Gaudet was the copilot of “Queen of Angels,” B-24 tail #42-50735, of the 446th Bomb Group, 704th Bomb Squadron, when it went down over Hamminkeln, Germany, on March 24, 1945 during Operation Varsity at 13:26. (1:26 p.m.) |
|
Buried |
He is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery at Margraten, Holland. |
Revisions
IDPF and/or crash report researched by Bill Beigel. IDPF donated to American Air Museum by Bill Beigel. For more information about this flyer, you may contact http://ww2research.com.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 13516 / MACR 14181 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database