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256529 2nd Lt. Herbert Bruce Gates United States Army Air Force 571st Bomb Squadron from:Huntington, TX Herbert Gates, called Bruce by family and friends, was a 2nd Lieutenant Bombardier/Togglier. He flew 13 missions with crew 87 before being shot down by flak on the 14th mission, to Merseburg on 30th of November 1944.
Four crew members were killed that day, Pilot Edwin C. Booth, Co-Pilot Quentin L. Davidson, Ball Turret Gunner Joseph D. Jackson, and Top Turret Gunner John E. Walsh. Navigator Abraham Elhai evaded according to American Air Museum in Britain, but is listed as a POW by 390th Generations as well. Remaining crew became POWs, Waist Gunner Bruce J. Greeno, Radio Operator William P Long, Tail Gunner Anthony J. Morreale,
The aircraft, a B-17G, De Joker, was flying at about 27,000 feet at time of explosion. Bruce Gates recalled the last thing he remembered was pulling the ripcord before passing out, then he regained consciousness a few seconds before hitting the ground. Many parachutes were seen and small arms fire was prevalent. Upon hitting the ground, he ditched his parachute, saw scattered German ground forces, and ran into a ravine where he hid under brush. 3 armed German soldiers appeared at the top of the ravine, looked as though they would fire into the brush, but turned and ran away. Bruce thought they may have considered he was armed and would have shot 1 or 2 of them before they killed him. In actuality, crews had been told not to carry their .45 automatics at that time of the war, believing they would be shot on site if they were armed. He carried no weapon.
After attempting to make his way to the Allied Forces for about 10 days, sick and with no food or water, he was captured. He was held for several days in a barn, awaiting transport. He was awakened one morning by something that hit him on his cot, it was a piece of hard bread, thrown through a high window by a small boy. When he stood on the cot to see out the window, he saw the boy, and about 50 yards away, a woman, likely the boy's mother, standing on the porch of the house, looking out for visitors. The boy signalled, asking Bruce if he wanted something to drink. The boy ran to the house, retrieved a jar of what may have been peach brandy, which Bruce said was the best thing he ever drank and tasted in his life. A few days later he was taken by German soldiers to a troop train, and interrogation in Frankfurt, after which he was assigned to Stalag Luft I in Barth, Germany for the remainder of the war. Upon liberation by Russian forces in May of 1945, he was one of about 8500 POWs sent from Stalag Luft I to Camp Lucky Strike in the Le Havre, France area before transporting by ship back to the United States.
His family in Texas had been notified soon after he was shot down that he was Killed in Action.
His return was a joyous occasion, and he resided in Texas until his death at age 73.
Married for almost 50 years, he had 2 boys, 5 grandchildren, and as of this writing, 2 great-grandchildren.
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