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name
TRILLING, Frank Henry - Date of
birth
4 September 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Waupun, Winnebago County, Wisconsin -
Hometown
Waupun, Dodge County, Wisconsin
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
16116627 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
331st Bombardment Squadron,
94th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
6 August 1944 - Place of
death
Approximately 54°14'N - 07°25'E
North of Norderney Island, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Frank A. Trilling (father)
Florence A. Trilling (mother)
Marjorie F. (Hoard) Trilling (wife)
Margaret T. Trilling (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-107185 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Berlin, Germany
MACR: 8075
More information
S/Sgt Frank H. Trilling enlisted in Milwaukee, Wisconsinon 15 September 1942.Aircraft #42-107185 was hit by flak in the target area (Berlin). Left formation in vicinity of target and continued to follow formation until about 31 miles on course after departing the enemy coast. At approximately 54°14'N - 07°25'E at 1352 hours the aircraft was seen to ditch. Observations just prior to ditching indicated that three (3) engines were out. As this aircraft had lagged behind the formation from the target area out, it was too far behind to accurately observe whether ditching was carried out safely.
Eventually all of the crewmembers beside Staff Sergeant Frank H. Trilling survived the ditch in the North Sea just North of the Island of Norderney and were captured by German Sea Patrol.
S/Sgt Frank Henry Trilling had his parachute on, against strict ditching regulations, and most likely this has been the cause of him drowning, while the others could not reach him because the aircraft that was broken in half blocked the way between Staff Sergeant Trilling and the other crewmembers.
Along side his parents, he is remembered at Oak Hill Cemetery in Neenah, Wisconsin.
Source of information: Mary Thelen Plat, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Family Trees, www.fold3.com - MACR, 1st Lt Claud L. Thomas Jr., Individual Casualty Questionnaires, http://www.8thafhs.com
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Fred Munckhof, www.ancestry.com - University of Wisconsin Yearbook 1939