Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
BRILLIANT, Fredrick H - Date of
birth
26 November 1923 -
Age
20 -
Place of birth
Los Angeles County, California -
Hometown
Los Angeles County, California -
Religion
Jewish
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O2058406 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
96th Bombardment Squadron,
2nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
17 October 1944 - Place of
death
Blechhammer, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 34 | 31 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph R. Brilliant (father)
Ester K. Brilliant (mother)
Robert L. Brilliant (brother)
Beth I. Brilliant (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6379 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Blechhammer, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the synthetic oil refinery
MACR: 9149
More information
2nd Lt Fredrick H. Brilliant attended high school for 4 years and worked in a metal factory. He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Los Angeles, California on 5 November 1942.The airplane collided with airplane 42-107006 over the target. It broke in half. Two crew members survived and were taken prisoner, eight were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of the military facilities of Heydebreck.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Fairfax High School 1942