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name
FREDRICKS, Lewis John - Date of
birth
5 March 1917 -
Age
25 - Place of
birth
Hampton, Franklin County, Iowa -
Hometown
Franklin County, Iowa
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
17043318 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Waist Gunner -
Unit
323rd Bombardment Squadron,
91st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 February 1943 - Place of
death
12 miles northwest of the western tip of Terschelling Island, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Henry J. Fredricks (father)
Clara A. (Einhaus) Fredricks (mother)
Helen M. Fredricks (sister)
Maribel J. Fredricks (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-24544 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pennsylvania Polka
Destination: Hamm, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 3557/4635
More information
Lewis John Fredricks attended Hampton High School. He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States at Fort Des Moines in Iowa on 7 February 1942.After suffering damage during the bomb run, the airplane was attacked by FW 190's on the return flight shortly after 12.40 hrs., knocking out #3 engine.
The entire crew of ten men was killed and their remains were never recovered. Seven are remembered at the Walls of the Missing of Margraten, three are remembered at the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery and Memorial of Cambridge.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, MACR 3557/4735, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - Brennan Family Tree / WWII Bonus Case File, www.archives.gov - Enlistment Record, www.americanairmuseum.com\
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Shannon Brennan Schopp