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name
SELK, Fredrick William - Date of
birth
3 November 1917 -
Age
27 -
Place of birth
Monroe Township, Benton County, Iowa -
Hometown
Dysart, Tama County, Iowa -
Ethnicity
White
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
37113153 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
832nd Engineer Squadron,
406th Air Service Group
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
7 May 1945 - Place of
death
Engers Bridge
Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle - Tablets of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Fred R. Selk (father)
Katherine A. (Bloss) Selk (mother)
Loyd H. Selk (brother)
Marvin C. Selk (brother)
Wayne P. Selk (brother)
Elsie V. (Nechanicky) Selk (wife)
Mary E. Selk (daughter)
Plane data
- Serial
number
unknown -
Data
unknown
More information
Sgt Fredrick W. Selk was born on his father's farm in Monroe Township, Benton County, Iowa. His father farmed 240 acres of land, probably growing corn. Most of the Selk family at this time either grew corn or raised cattle. His father died when he was young, leaving his widow with four young boys. It unlikely they farmed after his death. When he was old enough to work on his own he became a painter to help support his mother and himself.He enlisted on 9 February 1941 and received his training at Sheppard's Field, Texas.
Trolley missions were flown in early May 1945. The purpose being to provide all crew and ground personnel the opportunity to see the results of their contribution in the strategic air war against Germany. Many precautions were taken on these missions, and the most responsible and experienced pilots were chosen to fly. There were no trolley missions flown in bad weather. Despite such precautions, accidents occurred, such as this.
The crew decided to circle the cathedral in Koblenz. Presumably the airplane unfortunately flew much too low and collided with supply lines, which were stretched over the river Rhine. Due to the low altitude an evasive maneuver of the airplane was not possible any more. The plane crashed into one of the bridge piers.
All nineteen men aboard were killed, and the remains of only six of them were recovered.
Sgt Selk was one of the 15 passengers on this flight with a B-24J with serialnumber 44-10620.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, Paul Selk, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com, Waterloo Daily Courier
Photo source: www.findagrave.com