Gilbert Joseph Pohl was born February 12, 1916 in Stearns County, Minnesota to John A. and Blonda Smith Pohl. John Pohl had grown up in St. Cloud, and when he married Blonda they moved to Duluth where John got a job as a boilermaker in the shipyards. John and Blonda had eight children: Francis, Margaret, Gilbert, Artemis, Louise, Bernard, Lorraine and Donna Mae. The family lived on E. 8th Street for many years and the children attended Duluth public schools.
Gilbert attended Duluth Central High School through 11th grade, then went to work as a clerk in a Piggly-Wiggly for a short time. He soon found a more lucrative job as a press operator and worked at that until December of 1939, when he enlisted in the Army. He served in the mechanized division at Fort Randolph in the Panama Canal Zone for 18 months, then decided to transfer to the Army Air Force. He received his wings and his officer's commission in January of 1942 and was sent to be part of the 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, which was a B-24 (Heavy) bombardment group.
The 389th Bomb Group, familiarly known as the "Sky Scorpions," received deployment orders to England in May of 1943 and was stationed at RAF Hethel. The 389th and its B-24 Liberators flew over 300 missions from Hethel between June of 1943 and May of 1945. During this period they also sent detachments to join bases in Libya, North Africa, where they carried out bombing raids over Crete, Sicily, Italy, Austria and Romania. Gilbert was the pilot of B-24 42-40751 "Touch of Texas." He flew the "Touch of Texas" in the famed low-level attack against oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania on August 1, 1943, in which 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen were lost. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its participation.
The detachment returned to England later in August and the squadron flew several missions against airfields in France and Holland. These were very long-range strategic bombardment operations with targets that included industrial facilities, oil production facilities and refineries, rail and other transportation centers, enemy military airfields and garrisons. The squadron participated in the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week (February 20 – 25, 1944) The "Touch of Texas" flew over 25 combat missions until it was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Hethel with another pilot at the helm.
On April 9, 1944, the much-experienced Lt. Pohl was co-piloting a flight aboard the "Might of the 8th," with Lt. Glen Reese taking the pilot seat for his first time. The target was Tutow, Germany, where the German Air Force had a command center. They were flying at 7000' when they collided mid-air with a plane from another bombing group. Gilbert was killed, along with 9 other crew members.
Gilbert's body was temporarily buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridgeshire, England. It was later disinterred and reinterred in Calvary Cemetery, St. Cloud, Minnesota with his parents. He had been promoted to captain but was killed before receiving his wings. His family received them posthumously. Gilbert Pohl was 28 years old.
Pilot - Co Pilot 1st/Lt Gilbert J. Pohl KIA DSC/Air Medal
Hometown Duluth MN
566th Bomb Squadron 389th Bomb Group
Lt Pohl was Killed in action April 9 1944.
Service# O-796433
Target: Tutow
B 24 42-99982 Piloted by Lt Glen Reese during division assembly at 7000 feet for mission to Tutow, mid air collision occurred with a plane from another group (392BG ). Pohl was killed along with 9 other crew members. There were 2 survivors from Reese's plane and 2 survivors from the 392nd plane.
Gilbert was a pilot before the war, so when England became involved he was called up to go to England and work with the RAF according to his sister.
Lt Pohl was not an original member of the Vaughan/Reese crew, he was by April 1944 an experienced B24 combat Pilot in his own right. He flew as Pilot with his on crew on B24 42-40751 "The Touch of Texas " until that plane crash landed in Feb. 1944.
On his last mission Lt. Pohl was flying co-pilot for Reese on the " Might of the 8th ". Reese may have been taking the pilot seat for his 1st time and the experienced pilot Lt. Pohl was assigned as co-pilot.
Lt Pohl had been promoted to Captain but was killed before receiving his wings. His family received them posthumously.
The April 9th #: 42-99982 crew:
1st/Lt Glen W. Rees Pilot KIA
1st/Lt Gilbert J. Pohl Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John W. Galloway Navigator KIA
1st/Lt Don N. Di Cosol Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. John C. Dowdy Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. John Dorofachuk Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Silas E. Olson Gunner/ Asst. Eng. KIA
T/Sgt. Quindo L. Gerome Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Bronislaus C. Pitak Gunner/Asst. Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Harvey Dionne Gunner RTD
Captain John J. Driscoll Exec. Gunnery Officer RTD
Gilbert attended Duluth Central High School through 11th grade, then went to work as a clerk in a Piggly-Wiggly for a short time. He soon found a more lucrative job as a press operator and worked at that until December of 1939, when he enlisted in the Army. He served in the mechanized division at Fort Randolph in the Panama Canal Zone for 18 months, then decided to transfer to the Army Air Force. He received his wings and his officer's commission in January of 1942 and was sent to be part of the 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, which was a B-24 (Heavy) bombardment group.
The 389th Bomb Group, familiarly known as the "Sky Scorpions," received deployment orders to England in May of 1943 and was stationed at RAF Hethel. The 389th and its B-24 Liberators flew over 300 missions from Hethel between June of 1943 and May of 1945. During this period they also sent detachments to join bases in Libya, North Africa, where they carried out bombing raids over Crete, Sicily, Italy, Austria and Romania. Gilbert was the pilot of B-24 42-40751 "Touch of Texas." He flew the "Touch of Texas" in the famed low-level attack against oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania on August 1, 1943, in which 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen were lost. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its participation.
The detachment returned to England later in August and the squadron flew several missions against airfields in France and Holland. These were very long-range strategic bombardment operations with targets that included industrial facilities, oil production facilities and refineries, rail and other transportation centers, enemy military airfields and garrisons. The squadron participated in the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week (February 20 – 25, 1944) The "Touch of Texas" flew over 25 combat missions until it was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Hethel with another pilot at the helm.
On April 9, 1944, the much-experienced Lt. Pohl was co-piloting a flight aboard the "Might of the 8th," with Lt. Glen Reese taking the pilot seat for his first time. The target was Tutow, Germany, where the German Air Force had a command center. They were flying at 7000' when they collided mid-air with a plane from another bombing group. Gilbert was killed, along with 9 other crew members.
Gilbert's body was temporarily buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridgeshire, England. It was later disinterred and reinterred in Calvary Cemetery, St. Cloud, Minnesota with his parents. He had been promoted to captain but was killed before receiving his wings. His family received them posthumously. Gilbert Pohl was 28 years old.
Pilot - Co Pilot 1st/Lt Gilbert J. Pohl KIA DSC/Air Medal
Hometown Duluth MN
566th Bomb Squadron 389th Bomb Group
Lt Pohl was Killed in action April 9 1944.
Service# O-796433
Target: Tutow
B 24 42-99982 Piloted by Lt Glen Reese during division assembly at 7000 feet for mission to Tutow, mid air collision occurred with a plane from another group (392BG ). Pohl was killed along with 9 other crew members. There were 2 survivors from Reese's plane and 2 survivors from the 392nd plane.
Gilbert was a pilot before the war, so when England became involved he was called up to go to England and work with the RAF according to his sister.
Lt Pohl was not an original member of the Vaughan/Reese crew, he was by April 1944 an experienced B24 combat Pilot in his own right. He flew as Pilot with his on crew on B24 42-40751 "The Touch of Texas " until that plane crash landed in Feb. 1944.
On his last mission Lt. Pohl was flying co-pilot for Reese on the " Might of the 8th ". Reese may have been taking the pilot seat for his 1st time and the experienced pilot Lt. Pohl was assigned as co-pilot.
Lt Pohl had been promoted to Captain but was killed before receiving his wings. His family received them posthumously.
The April 9th #: 42-99982 crew:
1st/Lt Glen W. Rees Pilot KIA
1st/Lt Gilbert J. Pohl Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John W. Galloway Navigator KIA
1st/Lt Don N. Di Cosol Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. John C. Dowdy Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. John Dorofachuk Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Silas E. Olson Gunner/ Asst. Eng. KIA
T/Sgt. Quindo L. Gerome Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Bronislaus C. Pitak Gunner/Asst. Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Harvey Dionne Gunner RTD
Captain John J. Driscoll Exec. Gunnery Officer RTD
Gilbert Joseph Pohl was born February 12, 1916 in Stearns County, Minnesota to John A. and Blonda Smith Pohl. John Pohl had grown up in St. Cloud, and when he married Blonda they moved to Duluth where John got a job as a boilermaker in the shipyards. John and Blonda had eight children: Francis, Margaret, Gilbert, Artemis, Louise, Bernard, Lorraine and Donna Mae. The family lived on E. 8th Street for many years and the children attended Duluth public schools.
Gilbert attended Duluth Central High School through 11th grade, then went to work as a clerk in a Piggly-Wiggly for a short time. He soon found a more lucrative job as a press operator and worked at that until December of 1939, when he enlisted in the Army. He served in the mechanized division at Fort Randolph in the Panama Canal Zone for 18 months, then decided to transfer to the Army Air Force. He received his wings and his officer's commission in January of 1942 and was sent to be part of the 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, which was a B-24 (Heavy) bombardment group.
The 389th Bomb Group, familiarly known as the "Sky Scorpions," received deployment orders to England in May of 1943 and was stationed at RAF Hethel. The 389th and its B-24 Liberators flew over 300 missions from Hethel between June of 1943 and May of 1945. During this period they also sent detachments to join bases in Libya, North Africa, where they carried out bombing raids over Crete, Sicily, Italy, Austria and Romania. Gilbert was the pilot of B-24 42-40751 "Touch of Texas." He flew the "Touch of Texas" in the famed low-level attack against oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania on August 1, 1943, in which 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen were lost. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its participation.
The detachment returned to England later in August and the squadron flew several missions against airfields in France and Holland. These were very long-range strategic bombardment operations with targets that included industrial facilities, oil production facilities and refineries, rail and other transportation centers, enemy military airfields and garrisons. The squadron participated in the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week (February 20 – 25, 1944) The "Touch of Texas" flew over 25 combat missions until it was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Hethel with another pilot at the helm.
On April 9, 1944, the much-experienced Lt. Pohl was co-piloting a flight aboard the "Might of the 8th," with Lt. Glen Reese taking the pilot seat for his first time. The target was Tutow, Germany, where the German Air Force had a command center. They were flying at 7000' when they collided mid-air with a plane from another bombing group. Gilbert was killed, along with 9 other crew members.
Gilbert's body was temporarily buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridgeshire, England. It was later disinterred and reinterred in Calvary Cemetery, St. Cloud, Minnesota with his parents. He had been promoted to captain but was killed before receiving his wings. His family received them posthumously. Gilbert Pohl was 28 years old.
Pilot - Co Pilot 1st/Lt Gilbert J. Pohl KIA DSC/Air Medal
Hometown Duluth MN
566th Bomb Squadron 389th Bomb Group
Lt Pohl was Killed in action April 9 1944.
Service# O-796433
Target: Tutow
B 24 42-99982 Piloted by Lt Glen Reese during division assembly at 7000 feet for mission to Tutow, mid air collision occurred with a plane from another group (392BG ). Pohl was killed along with 9 other crew members. There were 2 survivors from Reese's plane and 2 survivors from the 392nd plane.
Gilbert was a pilot before the war, so when England became involved he was called up to go to England and work with the RAF according to his sister.
Lt Pohl was not an original member of the Vaughan/Reese crew, he was by April 1944 an experienced B24 combat Pilot in his own right. He flew as Pilot with his on crew on B24 42-40751 "The Touch of Texas " until that plane crash landed in Feb. 1944.
On his last mission Lt. Pohl was flying co-pilot for Reese on the " Might of the 8th ". Reese may have been taking the pilot seat for his 1st time and the experienced pilot Lt. Pohl was assigned as co-pilot.
Lt Pohl had been promoted to Captain but was killed before receiving his wings. His family received them posthumously.
The April 9th #: 42-99982 crew:
1st/Lt Glen W. Rees Pilot KIA
1st/Lt Gilbert J. Pohl Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John W. Galloway Navigator KIA
1st/Lt Don N. Di Cosol Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. John C. Dowdy Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. John Dorofachuk Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Silas E. Olson Gunner/ Asst. Eng. KIA
T/Sgt. Quindo L. Gerome Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Bronislaus C. Pitak Gunner/Asst. Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Harvey Dionne Gunner RTD
Captain John J. Driscoll Exec. Gunnery Officer RTD
Gilbert attended Duluth Central High School through 11th grade, then went to work as a clerk in a Piggly-Wiggly for a short time. He soon found a more lucrative job as a press operator and worked at that until December of 1939, when he enlisted in the Army. He served in the mechanized division at Fort Randolph in the Panama Canal Zone for 18 months, then decided to transfer to the Army Air Force. He received his wings and his officer's commission in January of 1942 and was sent to be part of the 566th Bomb Squadron, 389th Bomb Group, which was a B-24 (Heavy) bombardment group.
The 389th Bomb Group, familiarly known as the "Sky Scorpions," received deployment orders to England in May of 1943 and was stationed at RAF Hethel. The 389th and its B-24 Liberators flew over 300 missions from Hethel between June of 1943 and May of 1945. During this period they also sent detachments to join bases in Libya, North Africa, where they carried out bombing raids over Crete, Sicily, Italy, Austria and Romania. Gilbert was the pilot of B-24 42-40751 "Touch of Texas." He flew the "Touch of Texas" in the famed low-level attack against oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania on August 1, 1943, in which 53 aircraft and 660 aircrewmen were lost. The unit received a Distinguished Unit Citation for its participation.
The detachment returned to England later in August and the squadron flew several missions against airfields in France and Holland. These were very long-range strategic bombardment operations with targets that included industrial facilities, oil production facilities and refineries, rail and other transportation centers, enemy military airfields and garrisons. The squadron participated in the intensive air campaign against the German aircraft industry during Big Week (February 20 – 25, 1944) The "Touch of Texas" flew over 25 combat missions until it was damaged beyond repair in a landing accident at Hethel with another pilot at the helm.
On April 9, 1944, the much-experienced Lt. Pohl was co-piloting a flight aboard the "Might of the 8th," with Lt. Glen Reese taking the pilot seat for his first time. The target was Tutow, Germany, where the German Air Force had a command center. They were flying at 7000' when they collided mid-air with a plane from another bombing group. Gilbert was killed, along with 9 other crew members.
Gilbert's body was temporarily buried in the Cambridge American Cemetery in Cambridgeshire, England. It was later disinterred and reinterred in Calvary Cemetery, St. Cloud, Minnesota with his parents. He had been promoted to captain but was killed before receiving his wings. His family received them posthumously. Gilbert Pohl was 28 years old.
Pilot - Co Pilot 1st/Lt Gilbert J. Pohl KIA DSC/Air Medal
Hometown Duluth MN
566th Bomb Squadron 389th Bomb Group
Lt Pohl was Killed in action April 9 1944.
Service# O-796433
Target: Tutow
B 24 42-99982 Piloted by Lt Glen Reese during division assembly at 7000 feet for mission to Tutow, mid air collision occurred with a plane from another group (392BG ). Pohl was killed along with 9 other crew members. There were 2 survivors from Reese's plane and 2 survivors from the 392nd plane.
Gilbert was a pilot before the war, so when England became involved he was called up to go to England and work with the RAF according to his sister.
Lt Pohl was not an original member of the Vaughan/Reese crew, he was by April 1944 an experienced B24 combat Pilot in his own right. He flew as Pilot with his on crew on B24 42-40751 "The Touch of Texas " until that plane crash landed in Feb. 1944.
On his last mission Lt. Pohl was flying co-pilot for Reese on the " Might of the 8th ". Reese may have been taking the pilot seat for his 1st time and the experienced pilot Lt. Pohl was assigned as co-pilot.
Lt Pohl had been promoted to Captain but was killed before receiving his wings. His family received them posthumously.
The April 9th #: 42-99982 crew:
1st/Lt Glen W. Rees Pilot KIA
1st/Lt Gilbert J. Pohl Co Pilot KIA
2nd/Lt. John W. Galloway Navigator KIA
1st/Lt Don N. Di Cosol Bombardier KIA
T/Sgt. John C. Dowdy Engineer KIA
T/Sgt. John Dorofachuk Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Silas E. Olson Gunner/ Asst. Eng. KIA
T/Sgt. Quindo L. Gerome Gunner KIA
S/Sgt. Bronislaus C. Pitak Gunner/Asst. Radio Op. KIA
S/Sgt. Harvey Dionne Gunner RTD
Captain John J. Driscoll Exec. Gunnery Officer RTD
Inscription
MINNESOTA
1LT 566 AAF BOMB SQ
WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Originally buried Cambridge Memorial cemetery Re-interred to Minnesota August 1948.
Family Members
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