Memorial

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S/Sgt Theodore Fluegel left Franklin High School in his senior year to answer his country's call. After his enlistment he trained at Sheppard Field, Texas, went to gunnery school at Las Vegas, New Mexico and also was stationed at Tucson, Arizona and Pueblo, Colorado before going overseas about May 1st to serve as an aerial gunner on a Flying Fortress. He was a thoughtful son. On June 6th, just a week before he was killed he wrote his parents telling them not to worry as he had quite a lot of training to do. Already he had learned how horrible war can be. And he had the courage to face it without flinching. As American heavy bombers were reported blasting Axis U-boat bases at Bremen and Kiel on June 13th, S/Sgt Fluegel was reported missing in action. His death was reported later by the International Red Cross.

The aircraft was attacked by a fighter and was on fire. It crashed on a field near Gross Konigsforde. Theodore Fluegel was the only crewmember who was killed. The other 9 crewmembers were taken POW.