42-50511
Family. I am his grand daughter
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- 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
- 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
- Site type: Airfield
Missions
- 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
MACR 8599 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database