William Freidkas
Military
Seven Killed In Action (KIA) : Pilot John O. Broten; Navigator Roy C. Gehue; Bombardier Alfred C. Emert; Radio Operator William Freidkas; Top Turret Gunner Harry L. Sparks; Left Waist Gunner Jessie R. Ellis; Tail Gunner Michael J. Pranzetelli. - Photo : family of the sole survivor, Co-Pilot Edward Tappan,
MACR 6990
Research on the crew
Object Number - UPL 19045 - Plaque in memory of the 7 crew members of 42-72873 who lost their lives on the night of 5 July 1944. Location : at the entrance to the municipal...
William Freidkas enlisted in the Air Corps in March 1943. After his training as a Radio Operator, he was sent overseas and served in that function in the 801st Bomb Group/ 36th Bomb Squadron in England. Killed in the loss of B-24D '"Star Spangled Hell", #42-72873. Took off from Harrington at 23:13hrs on 4 July 1944 on a secret Carpetbagger mission of weapons and supplies delivery to the French Underground in the Loir-et-Cher area, France. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 6990. After successful drop, shot down by ME110 over Orléans, France. A/c caught fire and crashed at 00:10hrs, 5 July, near Champgirault at Trancrainville (Eure and Loire). Co-Pilot Edward Tappan was the only survivor. William Freidkas and 6 other members of the 8-man crew were killed in the mid-air explosion and they are commemorated on a plaque on a wall at the entrance to the Trancrainville cemetery.
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 34708160
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
- Service Numbers: 39850000 and O-762019
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Bronx, New York | 9 July 1924 | |
|
Enlisted |
New York City, New York, United States | 11 March 1943 | |
|
Died |
near Trancrainville, Eure-et-Loir, France | 5 July 1944 | Killed In Action (KIA) in the crash of B-24 # 42-72873 |
| Bronx County, New York, United States | |||
|
Buried |
Wellwood Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York, United States | Initially buried at the Les Aubrais cemetery in Orléans; reinterred at the temporary US Military Cemetery in Solers near Melun (Seine-et-Marne), France. His remains were repatriated to the United States. |
Revisions
MACR 6990
NARA WWII Enlistment records
www.801492.org
Research for Edward Tappan’s page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/ftappaned.html
801st BG Roster, http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm">http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm>; Losses of 8thAF, vol4. / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia