Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
ESTLINBAUM, Fred Eugene
Date of birth
10 December 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Wallis, Austin County, Texas
Hometown
Eagle Lake, Colorado County, Texas

Military service

Service number
38538948
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Radio Operator
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
10 January 1945
Place of death
Glatteneichen, 1,5 mile south of Wissen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
H 5 2

Immediate family

Members
Will D. Estlinbaum (father)
Anna Estlinbaum (mother)
E.W. Estlinbaum (brother)
Alice L. Estlinbaum (sister)
Raul Estlinbaum (brother)
Ray Estlinbaum (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
43-38237
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Dallas Doll
Destination: Bonn, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Hangelar airfield
MACR: 11762

More information

Sgt Fred E. Estlinbaum attended Texas A & I College in Kingsville, but left school after a year to join the Army Air Corps on 5 June 1943.

The airplane 43-38237 was hit by flak and went out of control. It came up and rammed airplane 43-38955 and with his #1 and #2 propellers cutted the plane in half at the bomb bay.

Seven crew members were killed. They were initially buried at the cemetery of Wissen on 14 January 1945. Two crew members were taken prisoner.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Peter Schouteten, Erwin Derhaag, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 census, Colorado County history, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.8thafhs.com

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, john Pope