56th Fighter Group Ace Captain Steven Gerick

TOM WALSH · **Posted:** Fri Dec 02, 2011 4:25 pm

Looking for a relative of 5 kill P-47 Ace Captain Steven Gerick from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Gerick transferred from the RCAF to the USAAF in 1943 after earning his Wings in Canada.

Captain Gerick passed away in on July 11, 2008 in Sun City West, Arizona.

I plan on writing his biography which will be included in a forthcoming book.

Any leads will be appreciated.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2011 11:55 am

Hold tight, I'm sure many people here on WIX will help in your effort. :drink3:

TriangleP · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2011 12:11 pm

There is a Helen K. Gerick listed as someone at his address in SunCity when I searched using MSN Peoplefinder, I'm assuming her to be his wife. FamilySearch.org lists her death certificate in Michigan 2006. Using FamilySearch.org again, Steven Gerick's death certificate is shown issued in Pennsylvania 2008. There's no guarantee that these are the same people, but if they are, the state in which the death certificates were issued might give a clue as to where to search for relatives. A long shot I know...

cooper9411 · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2011 12:18 pm

Chances are if you go to either state that was mentioned, website you can usually look up death certificates and generally there is more information in the file. I know this because I've researched numerous aircraft and have had to do the above mentioned. Or type in the city and state along with the word "newspaper" and possibly locate relatives that way. :drink3:

mike furline · **Joined:** Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm **Posts:** 1442

Here's a list of Gerick's in PA. The zip codes that start with "15"(eg 15122) are the Pittsburgh area.
PA,
http://www.zabasearch.com/query1_zaba.p ... 1&tm=&tmr=

AZ,
http://www.zabasearch.com/query1_zaba.p ... 1&tm=&tmr=

TriangleP · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2011 1:35 pm

The closest town to Pittsburgh found on the SABASEARCH posted by Mike is West Mifflin, with Barbara Gerrick and Joseph Gerick listed there. A relative handling the burial arrangements would probably have the death certificate processed in the county he was buried in. I assume Pittsburgh and West Mifflin are in the same county. If this is so, it's possible Steve Gerick is buried in the Pittsburgh area too.

According to this list most of the Gerick's in Pennsylvania are in Delta which is on the opposite side of the state. But there may be a close relative to Steve G. among them, like a brother. Mike's ZABASEARCH includes a birth date, so some assumptions can be made from this (brother, son or grandson).

Zachary · **Posted:** Thu Dec 08, 2011 4:02 pm

You might try posting your inquiry on the 56th Fighter Group website here: http://www.56thfightergroup.co.uk/. It has a guestbook that you can post on here: http://users4.smartgb.com/g/g.php?a=s&i=g44-47617-d2

TOM WALSH · **Posted:** Fri Jan 13, 2012 10:27 am

Thanks guys, good tips all.

I will follow them up.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

gondor2222 · **Joined:** Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:56 pm **Posts:** 1

This is Steven A. Gerick, grandson of the Steven Fighter Ace Steven Gerick this topic is about. I was trying to find an obituary for my grandfather and stumbled across this, so I suppose you guys are in luck. I hope you haven't given up on this yet.

Unfortunately, you will have no luck with the Gericks in Pennsylvania; only a small number on that list were actually relatives, and all of those few have died over the past few years. His wife, two sons, and two daughters are still alive and live in several states. The grandchildren number about four (I don't remember the exact number and can only name four including myself).

All of us keep connections so please feel free to ask for any information you need. I'll try to provide it.

TriangleP · **Posted:** Fri Apr 27, 2012 3:57 pm

Thank you for posting your reply Steve and welcome to WIX. Your grandfather had an interesting flying career during the war. I've met another American that flew for the RCAF then transferred to the USAAF during the war. Send a PM to Tom Walsh if you're interested in contact as he may not see this post.

TOM WALSH · **Posted:** Sun Apr 29, 2012 10:30 am

Steven,

Welcome to WIX.

PM has been sent.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

TOM WALSH · **Posted:** Sat May 19, 2012 8:14 am

Lisa Gerick,

Can you PM me again with your email address as I lost your message of May 4.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

TOM WALSH · **Posted:** Wed Feb 27, 2013 1:34 pm

I made contact with 56th FG Ace Captain Steven Gerick's daughter, Lisa, last May, but unfortunately have misplaced her email address. In the event she visits this site, I would like to reconnect as she indicated she wanted me to tell her father's story. An email address for her son Steven will also work.

Cheers,

Tom Walsh.

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56th Fighter Group Ace Captain Steven Gerick

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