Bryce C Gibson Jr
MilitaryOn 24 March 1945 towing a glider in Operation Varsity, C-47 43-15493 was struck by flak behind the right engine and inside the cockpit above the navigator's station. Co-pilot Lt. Eldred Trachta along with pilot Captain Victor Deere, navigator Lt. Bryce Gibson, and radio operator Earl Nordgren all went down with the aircraft and were killed. Only crew chief Tech. Sgt. Paul Lefever managed to parachute out of the burning plane and survived.
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Troop Carrier
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Troop Carrier
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 437th Troop Carrier Group 84th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-745-640
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: C-47 Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 437th Troop Carrier Group 84th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36608192
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: C-47 Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 437th Troop Carrier Group 84th Troop Carrier Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-777-868
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: C-47 Co-Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
- Unit: 437th Troop Carrier Group
Missions
- Date: 23 March 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
Revisions
GENERAL ORDER # 71, IX Troop Carrier Command dated 18 May 1945: From Headquarters IX GROUP CARRIER COMMAND by Major General Williams.
General Order 71 IX Troop Carrier Command dated 29 April 1945: From Headquarters IX GROUP CARRIER COMMAND by Major General Williams, and Narrative Statement by Technical Sargeant Paul B. Lefever dated 2 April 1945.