|
M/Sgt
Lloyd Geringer
1945
|
Lloyd
was born February 16, 1917 in Wauseon, OH, where other
than his service years, he spent his entire life. After
graduation from high school, he enrolled in a diesel school
in Detroit, and upon completion became employed as mechanic,
a job he held until the time of his enlistment in the
Army Air Corps in March of 1941.
Geringer
was stationed at Chanute Field, IL where he received training
in the maintenance and repair of various aircraft engines
- especially the large 2,200 hp Pratt and Whitney.
While
at Chanute, Gary persuaded his hometown sweetheart, Virginia
Hammontree, to visit him there. They soon decided to get
married. On January 18, 1942, they exchanged wedding vows
at University Christian Church, Champaign, IL.
|
Lloyd
and Virginia - 1942
|
His
next assignment was Lincoln AFB, NE for about one year
and a half, then on to Boeing Aircraft Company in Seattle,
birthplace of the superfort. He gained first-hand experience
in learning how the B-29 was built and its many revolutionary
systems.
After
completion of training at Boeing, Geringer joined a unit
at Lowery Field, Denver, and from there was sent to Salina,
KS, where he became flight engineer for Crew 44 of the
39th Bomb Group.
Early
in January of 1945, it participated with other crews of
the 39th in over-water training at Batista Field, Cuba.
Shortly after the crew's return to Salina, they flew to
Herington, KS for overseas staging, and then onto Mather
Field, Sacramento, CA for embarkation to North Field Guam.
Within
a short time after their arrival on Guam, Crew 44 was
scheduled to fly a search mission for a crew that had
ditched following a mission over Tokyo. It proved to be
their longest mission - 19 hours and 15 minutes. No survivors
were found.
Geringer
loved to work on engines and would spend hours on the
parking apron with Crew Chief, Bill Hayms (then Hehe),
assisting he and his crew of three preparing the aircraft
for its next strike.
Geringer
was discharged from the Army Air Corps late in 1945 with
the rank of Flight Officer. He had been awarded among
other medals the Distinguished
Flying Cross (DFC), three Air
Medals and two Distinguished
Unit Citations.
He
returned to Wauseon and went back to his old job at P.J.
Motor Sales. When the Ohio Turnpike opened in 1955, the
Commission hired him as a mechanic. There he worked for
over 25 years and retiring in 1981 as head mechanic.
Gary's
interest in the Group never waned over the years. He and
Virginia never missed a crew reunion and were at the 39th
get-togethers in Omaha and Harrisburg.
He
passed away October 5, 1991 - according to the "List
of Known 39th Bomb Group Members - Post War"
|
Lloyd
and Virginia - 1991
|
|