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name
FRYE, Benjamin Allen Jr - Date of
birth
9 January 1923 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Sharpsville, Mercer County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
14190259 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
566th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
7 April 1945 - Place of
death
Soltau, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| A | 9 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Benjamin A. Frye (father)
Myrtle Frye (mother)
James Frye (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-49533 -
Data
Type: B-24L
Destination: Geesthacht, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the explosives plant
MACR: 13892
More information
S/Sgt Benjamin A. Frye Jr. attended college.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Miami Beach, Florida on 25 February 1943.
An ME-109 attacked from about 6 O’clock high, pulled up over the formation, and then made a tight turn and dove on the lead aircraft. Aircraft 44-49533 was flying as deputy lead of the Group. The ME-109 did off the lead ship and crashed into the deputy lead hitting it at about the cockpit. Aircraft 44-49533 peeled off to the right and had n° 1 propeller knocked off and n° 4 engine on fire. No parachutes were seen from this aircraft.
Two crew members were taken prisoner, nine were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Michel Beckers, Terry Hirsch, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Mireille Goedhart