Robert William Freihofer

Military
media-26752.jpeg UPL 26752 Capt Oscar D O'Neil and crew of the 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, beside Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress 42-5070 'Invasion II'. England, 12 March 1943. Capt O'Neil crouched down centre front row.

Object Number - UPL 26752 - Capt Oscar D O'Neil and crew of the 401st Bomb Sqn, 91st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, beside Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress 42-5070 'Invasion II'....

Assigned to 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. Shot down 17-Apr-43 in B-17 42-5070 'Invasion II'. Plane was on fire when all crew parachuted to safety. Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 15519



Awards: AM, POW, WWII Victory, EAME.



Post war: President of the family baking business, Charles Freihofer Baking Company, from 1948 until 1988, when he was appointed chairman of the board, a position he remained in till his death in 1991. Director and treasurer of Quality Bakers of America Cooperative Inc., and a director of the Independent Bakers Association. Also Chairman of the board of the Cohoes Savings Bank and a director of the following:



Saratoga Performing Arts Center

United Mutual Insurance in Utica

Samaritan Hospital in Troy

Center for the Disabled in Albany

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32183032
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-430613
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Bomber pilot

Aircraft

Ground crew of the 91st Bomb Group uncover the nose of a B-17 Flying Fortress at Bassingbourn. Image stamped on reverse: '’Reviewed and Passed U.S Army 24 Mar 1943 Press Censor No 21 E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]. 'Passed for publication 24 MAR 1943 INTLD 32 Central Section Press Censorship Bureau' [stamp]. 'Associated Press' [stamp]. '254766' [Censor no]. Printed caption on reverse: 'FORTRESSES DAY RAID ON WILHELMSHAVEN The German naval base at Wilhelmshaven was successfully attacked in daylight March 22 by A
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Invasion II
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Troy, Rensselaer County, NY 1 November 1919 Son of Charles Christian and Emily Louisa [Steinhilber] Freihofer.

Enlisted

Albany, NY, USA 16 December 1941 Albany, New York

Other

Shot down

Oldenburg, Germany 17 March 1943 Shot down 17 April 1943 in B-17 425070 'Invasion II. ' Plane was on fire when all crew parachuted to safety.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Zagan, Poland 17 April 1943 Prisoner of War (POW). Stalag Luft III.

Died

Lake George, NY 12845, USA 20 July 1991

Buried

Seelye Cemetery Queensbury Warren County NY 24 July 1991 Seelye Cemetery Queensbury Warren County New York, USA

Based

Bassingbourn 17 April 1943 Assigned to 401BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributoracbernstein1
Changes
Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 15519 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Robert William Freihofer: Gallery (2 items)