Merging Multiple Rows in a Column without losing text

sample merging file.xlsxI have a data array of 7 col and 256 rows. I want to focus only on the first 2 columns though. Here is what is going on. In the first column I have numbers from 1-256, these numbers are merged to the appropriate size to accommodate the data in column 2. However, the data in column 2 is not merged, it consists of 1,2, or 3 lines of text. Excel deletes the text in the rows below 1 if I try to merge, excel does not allow multiple row merge selections. What I am looking for is a formula that looks at column 1, finds how many rows are being merged in column 1, then looks at column 2 and identifies the number of rows needed for merging and displays that text in only one row. Basically, it's a formula that merges multiple rows of text in col 2 depending on the number of merged rows in col 1.

No. Customer/Operator

1 Fairbanks Morse /
Beloit, WI
2 H+H Umwelttechnik /
UBS AG Zürich
3 Didier/Blohm + Voss
Steinwerder
4 Siemens KWU KPW
Redwitz
5 Hanseatische Aktiengesellschaft
ARGE Tangermünde
6 Calpine Energy /
Phila., PA
7 Patten Power /
Elmhurst, IL
5 Lebo Türen Werke

6 Blohm + Voss/
Hoogovens

7 Integral/
Dieselmotoren Rostock
8 Polyma/
Stadtwerke Pfarrkirchen
9 Monhoff-Handels GmbH
Kunststoffrecycling Himberg
10 Staatliches Bauamt
Köln II Bundesamt für Verfassungsschutz