Gerald had completed High School with a bright future, but hte Call-Of-Duty came and Gerald became a B-25 PILOT… His nickname was "Danny" and he is remembered as that. His niece tells us that it had shortened through the years to Danny from "Dynamite!" as a child as he was so energetic, that was his nickname :)

His service Record : First mission 24 Jun 43: This is regular plane and crew Jun thru Jul 43. A/C No. 41-13197

P Martin, John K. “Kirk”, 1Lt

CP Henson, Gerald J., 2Lt

N None

B Brei, Harold G., S/Sg

E StAntoine, James J., S/Sgt

R Sidlik, Theophil S., T/Sgt

G Gehrts, Walter F., S/Sgt

Started flying with Orrantia on 26 Aug 43: This was regular plane and crew Aug thru 25 Sept.** A/C No. 42-32416

P Orrantia, Gilbert D., 2Lt

CP Henson, Gerald J., 2Lt

N None

B Chamberlain, Don C., S/Sgt

E Kemp, Quentin B., S/Sgt

R Ramirez, Zenon (NMI), Jr., S/Sgt

G McNeil, Gabriel J., Pvt

F Dobbins, Daniel G., 1Lt, HQ 321st BG

25 Sep 43 flew first of 20 missions with Knapp thru 43 –

Knapp’s steady plane was 41-13008

A/C No. 42-64520

P Knapp, Theodore A., 2Lt

CP Henson, Gerald J., 2Lt

N None

B Chamberlain, Don C., S/Sgt

E Hershberger, Ralph G., Jr., S/Sgt

R Walsh, Thaddeus J., S/Sgt

G Osterman, Raymond (NMI), Sgt

F Goetz, F. W., Sgt, 9th Combat Camera

*** 24 Dec 43: crashed in non-combat mission – considering the people on board,

it was probably a parts run/supply mission. Lt Graham was the Engineering

Officer, and also the “Tech Supply” Officer. Sgt Carnes was in engineering,

and Sgt Bonacich was a gunner.

A/C No. unknown (MACR-? - crashed into Lion Mountain, near La Senia Air Base, in Africa - due to poor visibility)

P Klang, Irving E., 2Lt - KIA

CP Henson, Gerald J., 2Lt - KIA

PAX Graham, Robert W., 2Lt - KIA

PAX Carnes, James B., Sgt - KIA

PAX Bonacich, Matthew G., Sgt - KIA

I can account for 46 combat missions, including “spares”

(non-combat crash mission not counted in this list)

Jun 43 3 missions

Jul 8 (all w/Martin)

Aug 3 (all w/Martin)

Sep 9 (7 w/ Orrantia - 2 w/Knapp)

Oct 12 (7 w/Knapp – 4 with various pilots & planes)

Nov 5 (all with Knapp)

Dec 6 (all with Knapp)

Total 46

Gerald J Henson