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Submit- Full
name
FRIES, Roy Thomas - Date of
birth
10 November 1920 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Fresno, Fresno County, California -
Hometown
Fresno, Fresno County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39095792 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Gunner -
Unit
367th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
15 May 1943 - Place of
death
In the Shallow Sea near Cuxhaven, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Adam Pretzer (uncle)
Mary Pretzer (aunt)
Walter Fries (brother)
Flora Fries (sister)
Clarence Clark (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-29744 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Wilhelmshaven, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the U-boats yards
MACR: 15512
More information
S/Sgt Roy T. Fries graduated from Edison Technical High School. He was employed by Bender Venetian Blind Co.He enlisted in San Francisco, California on 17 July 1942. He was sent overseas in February 1943 to Africa for a month and then to England.
The aircraft took part in a bombing mission to submarine pens at Wilhelmshaven on 15 May 1943, at which time 3 aircrafts were lost from the 306th Group. Flak was intense and the cause of the loss is unknown.
The airplane crashlanded in shallow water between Neuwerk Island and Couxhaven, Germany. An attempt to salvage th plane was initially postponed because the bombs were still on board. Under difficult circumstances the bombs were blown up by the aid of fishing boats from 2 to 4 June 1943.
Four crew members survived and were taken prisoner, six were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.archives.gov, The Fresno Bee - 26 May 1943
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, The Fresno Bee - 26 May 1943