C47 mid-air collision Nov.26,1944 316 TCG

Hi !
On November 26,1944 a C47 of 316 TCG crashed at Bierset airport (A93D, Belgium), following a mid-air collision with a C47 of 435 TCG.
The name of the pilot of the 316 TCG plane is possibly 2Lt.Marcel O.Gerdin (0-705679).
Who has more details about this mid-air collision ?
Many thanks in advance !

Luc

Luc,
Have you tried contacting Mike Ingrisano?  He is the author of an excellent book on the history of the 316th TCG.  His book is "VALOR WITHOUT ARMS:  A History of the 316th Troop Group,1942-1945", published by Merriam Press.  He writes from experience, as he was a member of the 316th.  According to his book Marcel O. Gerdin was the pilot of the aircraft that was lost.  He does have a little more information in the book.  The last email I had for Mike was:
mingnan@juno.com.  Hope this helps.

Larry,

Many thanks for your reply.I'll certainly contact Mike. The plane in question could be 43-16275 C47B.
Best regards from Belgium.

Luc

Luc,
According to the book, the Aircraft Number was #42-108877, of the 37th Squadron.  It was involved in a midair collision, Operation Eagle, with a plane from the 435th TCG.  Date was November 26, 1944.  Pilot was 2LT. Marcel O. Gerdin (previously wounded in Holland); Co-Pilot was 2LT Eugene H. Simmons; Crew Chief was T/Sgt. Floyd H. Webster; Radio Operator was S/Sgt. Anthony G. Cimmino.  Mike also states in his book that Cimmino and Webster are interred at the American Cemetery at Henri Chapelle.  I know that Mike was a member of the 37th Squadron and will have personal information.  My last contact with him was in January of 2007 when he help me tremendously by furnishing information on the death of my Uncle.  If for any reason you are unable to contact Mike, let me know and I'll furnish you everything I can from his book.  My email is:  lkane@elp.rr.com.
Larry Kane
El Paso, Texas 

Luc,
Far from me to spoil things, but C-47 42-108877 (44 TCS/316 TCG) apparently  had a mid-air with C-47 42-92679 (36 TCS/316 TCG) over Berwick, northern England as early as 12 May 1944.

For Bierset on 26 Nov 44 I found 43-48914 (C-47, 76 TCS/435 TCG, Pilot Edwin Hollon, KMAC) and 43-15209 (C-47, 78 TCS/435 TCG, Pilot Curtis Opliger, TAC).

Don't know if two accidents are related, for found no other a/c in vicinity with MAC.

Groet,

Leendert

Larry,

In the otherwise detailed book "Valor Without Arms" (which by the way is online via Google Books) no serial is given for the 316th TCG C-47 that was involved in the mid-air collision with the 435th TCG C-47 outside Liège, Belgium.

Regards,

Leendert





 

Leendert,
You are absolutely correct.  I stand corrected.  After rechecking my copy of the book, the carry over from the previous page was the aircraft number preceeding the entry for 2LT.  Gerdin on 26 November 1944.  The aircraft number for 2LT Gerdin's flight is not recorded.  There are some footnotes on page 230 and 231 that Luc might find helpful if indeed it is the incident on 26 November 1944 he is seeking.  Good luck and thanks for pointing out my error.

Hi all,
I am a current member of the 37 Airlift Squadron at Ramstein AB, Germany.  We are trying to put together a Wall of Heroes in our squadron meeting space.  We recognize that our squadron has a long legacy of courageous men who have paved the way in aviation and troop/cargo airlift.  Currently, I am trying to piece together the names (along with family members, pictures, awards, gravesite locations, and dates and circumstances of death) of all the men in the 37TCS who died during WWII.  I am currently reading and trying to contact Mike Ingrisano to get more information.  Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated.   
 
Thanks,
Lt Andrew Richter
37 Airlift Squadron

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