Posted By Clarence F Kooi on July 06, 2007 at 15:07:28:
In Reply to: B-17 posted by Tracy Merk-Rohan on March 16, 2006 at 14:56:44:
: I am still looking for more information on my grandfather...Cloyd R. Merk...All I know is that he signed up for the Air Corp in Sedalia, MO...Had gunner school in Las Vagas, and was stationed somewhere in England...He was on a B-17 that named Miss Behavin, but not in the 309th...he served from 1944-1945. My grandmother told me that they went down in Belgum..but fixed the plane. I realize that there are several Miss Behavin's....My grandfather has since past and my dad knows as much as I do...Can anyone please help...even if its just a contact for someone.... I am desperate. I also have his ID # but I am hesitant to ive it at this time...I do thank all that have replied....
Yes. I am the Ball Turret gunner who flew 28 missions a few feet underneath your grandfather, Cloyd Merk, who was the waist gunner (the ball turret is the belly turret just underneath the waist gunner). Merk, as we called him, was responsible for cranking me up, in case the ball turret drive system failed, and for getting me my parachute since there wasn't room for a parachute in the ball turret. Fortunately, none of this ever became necessary. Our plane was 'Miss B Havin', and we did have to land in Belgium, as you say. That was on February 6, 1945 coming back from bombing an oil refinery at Chemnitz. He came from Smithton, Missouri. We were in the 835th Bomb Squadron, 486th Bomb Group stationed at Sudbury,about 50 miles northeast of London. We flew 28 missions to most of the major targets in Germany, including Berlin two times, between January 13 and April 21, 1945.
I am:
Clarence F. Kooi
10 Picket Court
Sacramento, CA 95823
916-399-8381
cfkooi@sbcglobal.net
Hoping to hear from you.