B-24 #42-73196 left Panagarh Air Base on December 1, 1943. The targets were the Insein Railroad Yard & Locomotive Factory and the occupied enemy airfield at Rangoon, Burma. From 1st Lt. Emil A. Kremer, the following is the eyewitness account to the downing of Rauh's ship:
2nd Lt. Gilbert A. "Gibby" Rauh, O-738787
Bombardier - McLauchlen Crew
10th Air Force / 7th Bombardment Group / 436th Bombardment Squadron
KIA 1 Dec 43 Rangoon, Burma
Air Medal Purple Heart
(Info/Images Courtesy of Al Hoffman)
2Lt. Gilbert A. Rauh
L-R: SSgt. Saul Sacher, Sgt. David W. Hancock, Lt. John E. McLauchlen, Jr.
Sgt. Harold L. Seifreid, Lt. "Gibby" Rauh, 2Lt. John K. Norman in Egypt on their way to India.
(Click on image to enlarge)
"On or about December 1, 1943 at 1225 hours, 1st Lieut. Emil A. Kremer was flying number 2 position 436th Bombardment Squadron (H) element.
Our formation of three planes tacked on to the 9th Bombardment Squadron's formation. After turning from the bombing run Lt. McLauchlens left wing was hit by Anti-aircraft fire and started to smoke badly. He then dove sharply to the left and three enemy aircraft followed him down. He was last seen going into a cloud bank."
(Click on image to enlarge)
Lt. Rauh's Find-A-Grave.com Memorial
436th BS Personnel
7th BG Personnel
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