Tribute to Robert D. Cookson Sr. and B-29er's of the Marianas
  • Home- Uncle Bob
  • Uncle Bob's Letters
    • Uncle Bob's Letters 1943 >
      • Jan. 1943
      • Feb. 1943
      • March 1943
      • April 1943
      • May 1943
      • October 1943
      • June 1943
      • July 1943
      • August 1943
      • September 1943
      • November 1943
    • Uncle Bob's Letters 1944 & 1945 >
      • January 1944
      • February 1944
      • March 1944
      • April 1944
      • May 1944
      • June 1944
      • August 1944
      • September 1944
      • October 1944
      • November 1944
      • December 1944
      • January 1945
      • February 1945
      • Last letter mailed home- __06 March 1945__
      • Last letter found in his belongings after his death-not mailed
  • Uncle Bob youth images
  • Uncle Bob Training/Becoming Radar Operator
  • Uncle Bob KIA
  • KIA - The Flight and Collision
  • KIA - The Aftermath
  • Returning Uncle Bob's Remains to the U.S. 1948
  • Z Square 8 CRASH SITE PHOTOS
  • POWs in Hyogo Ken eye-witness accounts, crash of the Z Square 8
  • Visit to Crash Site/Memorial. April 2015
  • Osaka Kempeitai Execution of Nelson and Augunas
  • Aircrews/Missions
  • 500th Bomb Group
  • Z-6 "Draggin' Lady"
  • Z-6 "Booze Hound"
  • Z-7 "Hell's Belle"
  • Z-8 "Mission to Albuquerque"
  • Z-9 "Nina Ross"
  • Z-10 "Punchin' Judy"
  • 1st Incendiary Raid report, Tokyo, 9 March 1945
  • Incendiary Raid Reports, Kobe, 17 March 1945. Z-8 crew lost.
  • Unofficial History of the 73rd Wing Book
  • Algy Augunas of Z-8, "Mission to Albuquerque", Radio Operator, POW/Executed
  • Erwin A. Brousek of Z-8 "Mission to Albuquerque", Bombardier
  • Herschel W. Connor of Z-8 "Mission to Albuequerque", Flight Engineer
    • Connor War Diary
  • Robert E. Copeland of Z-8, "Mission to Albuquerque", Pilot/Co-Pilot, KIA
  • George Lucas of Z-8, Crew Chief
  • Richard A. Field of Z-6, "Draggin' Lady", Pilot
  • Richard Dodds of Z-6, of "Draggin' Lady", Pilot-Co/Pilot
  • Douglas F. Bulloch of Z-6, "Draggin' Lady", Left Gunner/Spotter
  • Charles R. Maples of Z-6, "Draggin' Lady", Radio Operator
  • Romeo "Raymond" Rendina of Z-6, "Draggin Lady", Tail Gunner-secondary crew, Engle.
  • Harry Gerson of Z-6, "Booze Hound", Radar Operator-replaced Bob Cookson
  • Francis J. Merrick of Z-6, "Draggin Lady," Navigator
  • Jack L. Heffner of Z-7,and Z-11, "Hell's Belle" and "Holy Joe", Radar Operator
  • Jack Lebid of Z-7, "Hell's Belle", Radio Operator
  • Edwin Lawson of Z-22, "Leading Lady", CFC "Ring" Gunner
  • James R. Farrell of Z-34, "Frisco Nannie", Aircraft Commander
  • Jack V. Arterburn of Z-34, "Frisco Nannie", Flt.Eng.
  • Harold Arbon of Z-36, "Lil Abner," Aircraft Commander
  • Harold Arbon Saipan photo collection
  • Ray "Hap" Halloran of V-27, "Rover Boy Express", Navigator-survived war
  • Billy J. Burgess of E Triangle 27, "Good Deal", CFC Gunner
  • John L. Wright, Circle X 39, "Indiana," CFC Gunner, KIA
  • Nicolas V. Van Ness of Block "O" 15, "Green Hornet", Bombardier
  • Gerald J. Murphy of Aircraft #42-6379, Tail Gunner
  • John R. McNamara Jr., 499th Bomb Group
  • Junichi Ogata of the 56th Sentai, Capt., Fighter pilot
  • Meeting Capt. Ogata's Daughter April 2015
  • Z-8 Scale Tribute Build
  • Tribute Show Car - "Reverence" - Dodge Challenger
  • Misc Mission Reports/Documents of Interest
  • Photo Galleries (5 galleries)
  • Color Photos on Saipan
  • B29 Nose Art - Larry Mire collection
  • Mariana Islands Aircraft Designations
  • WWII Surrender Chaplain Observation
  • The B29 Aircraft
  • WWII War Aircraft Facts
  • Comemorative Air Force's B-29 "FiFi"
  • Links
  • Contact Us
  • Change Log

S/Sgt. Harry Gerson of Z-6, "Booze Hound"


"Dad was only 68 when he died in 1989.  I was 28.  He did not really talk to me about what he did during the war years, and I am sorry I did not quiz him more about it.  But I do remember one thing................
 
When I was little, he would get in bed with me and we would pretend we were back on the 'Draggin Lady.'
He would have me open the bomb bay doors, the flaps, etc.....I will never forget falling asleep to that." 
-Marc Gerson on the memories of his dad and hero, Harry.  The love between father and son never dies.
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Harry Gerson

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Radar Operator, Harry Gerson, transferred from the Sykuta crew to replace our Uncle Bob on the  Z Square 6,
"Draggin Lady," in December 1944.

 

We want to thank Marc Gerson for providing the following photographs in honor of his dad, radar operator SSgt Harry Gerson who flew on the "Draggin Lady" and the "Booze Hound."  Harry replaced our Uncle Bob when our uncle transferred to the Fitzgerald crew in December, 1944. 
Harry did a great job and fit right in with his new crew.
(Usually three to four enlisted 6-man flight crews were billeted together in the same Quonset hut.  This could account for the unknown members in these photographs)
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Harry Gerson
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Harry Gerson and his pre-B29 transportation
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Charles Maples visiting his buddy Harry Gerson in 1989
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Harry Gerson & Ed Gaither
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Unknown ground crewman in front of his tent, Saipan
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Gerson sitting on porch far right, Maples on his left. Bulloch standing 2nd from right. Wortovitch kneeling far left on porch & Gaither directly behind him with hand on his shoulder
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Unknown, Harry Gerson
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Charles Maples
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L-R: Unknown, Gerson, Bulloch, Wortovitch
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Unknown
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L-R: Wortovich, Gerson & Dortch on R/R in Hawaii with friend, probably between 16 April and 7 May 1945
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Unknown
Gerson Discharge papers
Gerson Discharge papers


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