42-50511

My grandfather Louis Joseph Trosclair UPL 68632 UPL 68632 This is my grandfather Louis Joseph Trosclair. He was part of Kenneth Frazee and Edward Appel crew. His b24 went down on Sept 5, 1944 over surbourg, France. He was taken as a POW

Family. I am his grand daughter 

42-50511 Kenneth Ellsworth Frazee On

Object Number - UPL 68632 - This is my grandfather Louis Joseph Trosclair. He was part of Kenneth Frazee and Edward Appel crew. His b24 went down on Sept 5, 1944 over surbourg,...

This plane was piloted by Lt Frazee and co-pilot Captain Edward Appel on its last mission on 5 September 1944. Its target was the Marshalling yards near Karlsruhe. It was flying deputy lead and on formation instruments nearly all the way. Just before reaching the IP they broke into the clear. They had just started the bomb run when the 88s hit. The plane took a big hit to the right wing and its two right engines were knocked out. The rudder cables were also cut, they had no turbos, and the fuel cells were ruptured. The windshield had come in and gas was flowing. They managed to turn around using the ailerons, but lost altitude fast. They salvoed the bombs and anything else loose, but could not make it to the American lines. The crew bailed out and the plane crashed near Surbourg, France. Two men died because of chute failure (Bombardier Charles W. Davis and Assistant Navigator Theodore E. Rachel); one man successfully evaded (Co-Pilot Edward W. Appel); two others managed to evade capture until they were arrested (Radio Operator/Gunner Maynard A. Latten and Tail Gunner Curtis E. Hodges, killed by the Germans on 25 November 1944); seven men were captured and were Prisoners of War (POWs) : Pilot Kenneth E. Frazee, 1st Navigator Charles R. Steinforth, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Louis J. Trosclair, Observer Paul C. Andersen, Right Waist Gunner Raymond H. Keller, Left Waist Gunner George B. Steele and the other Assistant Navigator William C. Beasley. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 8599.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 389th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Observer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 445th Bomb Group 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron Headquarters (93rd Bomb Group)
  • Service Numbers: 19018109 / O-745854
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot / Fighter Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
My grandfather Louis Joseph Trosclair
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 389th Bomb Group 566th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11066624 at enlistment, then O-805900
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Missions

A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97904) nicknamed "Lady Janette" of the 452nd Bomb Group drops bombs over the target. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Stuttgart 5 Sept 44. 452 BG Mott A/C.'
  • Date: 5 September 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Failed to Return (FTR)

Surbourg, France 5 September 1944 Crashed between Surbourg and Soultz-sous-Forêts, about 15km Northeast of Haguenau, Alsace, France

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 8599

Date
Contributorjpendolino
Changes
Sources

Juliann Pendolino

Date
Contributorjpendolino
Changes
Sources

Juliann Pendolino

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 8599 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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