Gerding, Cecil Louis
Personal Information
Rank | F/S |
Forename(s) | Cecil Louis |
Surname | Gerding |
Gender | M |
Age | 23 |
Decorations | |
Date of Death | 13-05-1943 |
Next of Kin | Son of Joseph William Frantone Gerding and Anna (Honorah) Mary Gerding (née McHugh), of Pandora, Alberta, Canada. |
Aircraft Information
Aircraft | Avro Lancaster I |
Serial Number | ED329 |
Markings | DX- |
Memorial Information
Burial/Memorial Country | Netherlands |
Burial/Memorial Place | Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Nijmegen |
Grave Reference | 14. D. 5. |
Epitaph |
IBCC Memorial Information
Phase | 1 |
Panel Number | 39 |
Enlistment Information
Service Number | R/115979 |
Service | Royal Canadian Air Force |
Group | 5 |
Squadron | 57 |
Trade | Air Gunner |
Country of Origin | Canada |
Other Memorials
Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Sculptures, Inscribed Memeorial Stone & Inscribed Metal Plaques |
Memorial Text | In memory of those who gave their lives with 57 and 630 Squadrons 1939 - 1945 |
Location | Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre, East Kirkby, Lincolnshire |
Country | United Kingdom |
Memorial Type | Stenciled 57 Sqn RoH in site Chapel |
Memorial Text | In proud memory of the men of No. 57 Squadron who lost their lives operating from Royal Air Force East Kirkby 1943 to 1945 |
Miscellaneous Information
Cecil was born on 23 September 1919 at Pandora, Alberta. His father, born in New York, was a machine agent and his mother was born in Dublin, Ireland. He had six siblings - four brothers and two sisters. He attended Sand Pits Public school, 1925-1934 (Grade IX) and Vulcan High School 1934-1937 (Grace XII) - both in Alberta. He also took a course in Auto Mechanics at Calgary Central. His sport interests were hockey, rugby, baseball and golf and he enjoyed building model aircraft, amateur radio broadcasting and was a member of the Dominion rifle club. Cecil took on various odd jobs between 1937-1940 including a diesel operator for O.L. McPherson in 1939, as a driver/mechanic in 1940 for H.W. Johnston, as a clerk, in 1940 and for Greyhound Bus Lines 1940-1941. |
He enlisted on 20 August 1941 and after training was posted to the U.K. He embarked from Canada on 21 August 1942 and arrived at 3PRC on 2 September 1942. He then went to 19 OTU 21 September 1942, 10 OTU 8 December 1942, 1659 CU 15, December 1942, 1660 CU 19 January 1943, 1654 CU 9 February 1943, and 57 Squadron 1 April 1943. It was from there that Cecil sadly lost his life on 13 May 1943. |
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
The National Archives
Record of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/538/32 |
Summary of Events (Operational Record Book) AIR 27/538/31 |
Fellow Servicemen
Last Operation Information
Start Date | 12-05-1943 |
End Date | 13-05-1943 |
Takeoff Station | Scampton |
Day/Night Raid | Night (56% moon) |
Operation | Duisburg |
Reason for Loss | Shot down by a night fighter, crashing at Maasniel in Holland |