Frank C Annis Jr
MilitaryCrashed at Berow on 3 Feb 45 in B-17 'Yankee Bell' 42-32085, Prisoner of War (POW).
Amis was a bombardier in 324th Squadron when he was taken prisoner following 'Yankee Bell's' crash landing in Germany. They had landed in a a ploughed field and farm hands came after them with ropes and pitchforks and Annis used his limited German to request that soldiers be summoned. He was freed from POW camp three months later when - with cameras rolling - General George Patton 'busted open the gates at Mooseburg'.
Fifty two years later Annis got his Air Medal.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
![Two airmen of the 91st Bomb Group with a B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-H, serial number 41-23085) at Bassingbourn in January 1943. Image via Lieutenant Colonel Paul Chryst, 91st Bomb Group. On reverse: US Army Examiner [Stamp]. Stamp has been struck out.](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-408074.jpg.webp?itok=ohb_8eOY)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Yankee Belle
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 322nd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Other Prisoner of war |
3 February 1945 | ||
|
Born |
St Louis, Missouri |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Biography completed by historian Helen Millgate. Information sourced from newsletters of the 91st Bomb Group related to the service of Frank Annis.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12233