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name
GERIOK, Michael - Date of
birth
3 November 1911 -
Age
31 - Place of
birth
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33038923 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
27 January 1943 - Place of
death
Harlingen/Terschelling, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Harry Geriok (father)
Francis Geriok (mother)
Mary Geriok (sister)
Steven Geriok (Brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-23690 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the naval base
MACR: 15637
More information
S/Sgt Michael Geriok graduated from Schenley High School and was a stock clerk before he enlisted in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 14 May 1941.His parents were emigrants from Poland.
The primary target as briefed was Wilhelmshaven in Germany, but due to severe weather and poor navigation, is was decided to hit a "target of opportunity" at Lemmer in the Netherlands. On the way back, the formation was attacked by Me 109s and FW 190s, numbering about 36. A few minutes later, at 11.55 hours — the aircraft severely damaged an attacking FW 190 and apparently killed the pilot. This enemy aircraft then crashed into the left wing tip, tearing off the left wing as well as the tail assembly. The aircraft went into a flat spin and crashed into the rather shallow Wadden Sea, as did the FW. No one was able to parachute and there were no survivors. Despite a large-scale search by both the Germans and Dutch, only the bodies of three American airmen were found and identified.
His brother Steven served with the Roay Canadian Air Force.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Astrid van Erp, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, www.fold3.com - WWII Registration Card, www.newspapers.com - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.americanairmuseum.com