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Personal info

Full name
RUSSELL, Frank Reese
Date of birth
12 December 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Painted Post, Steuben County, New York
Hometown
Montour Falls, Schuyler County, New York

Military service

Service number
T-062754
Rank
Flight Officer
Function
Pilot
Unit
38th Fighter Squadron,
55th Fighter Group
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
7 January 1945
Place of death
East of Walcheren, Holland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Frank Russell (father)
Elsie L. (Reese) Russell (mother)
George W. Bentley (stepfather)
Lee A. Russell (brother)
John Russell (brother)
Garland Russell (brother)
Jesse H. Russell (brother)
Alice M. Russell (sister)
Harold C. Russell (brother)
Leroy Russell (brother)
June Bentley (half-sister)

More information

Eyewitness 1st Lt David H. Courtney reported:
"Our squadron was over the Frisian Islands on a course of 240 degrees when I realized that my gas was too low to make it back to England. I was flying Red #3. Red#4 and I went to 'C' channel and headed for Manager, getting good fixes from Sweepstakes and Manager. Yellow #4 (F/O Russell) was also low on gas and started home with us. In the vicinity of Dordrecht, Holland, he said he had insufficient gas to make St. Trond and got a steer to an R.A.F. base at Antwerp. He broke off to our starboard on a Sweepstakes steer, and we could hear him every 30 seconds or so in response to Sweepstakes fixes. His last call said he only had 5 gallons of gasoline and still about 35 miles from Antwerp. Sweepstakes made several additional calls to no avail, and Lt Jones, Red #4, called for him on all channels with no response. It is believed he jumped just east of Walcheren or vicinity."

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Russ Abbey-55th Fighter Group Association, Astrid van Erp, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1930 Census / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men

Photo source: Jac Engels, Michel Beckers, Russ Abbey-55th Fighter Group Association