FRE 177
IMAGECapt. Frederick J. Christensen of the 62nd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group, holds up six fingers to show the number of aircraft he shot down during a mission on 7 July 1944. Passed for publication 8 July 1944. Printed caption attached to print: 'U.S. airman overnight becomes fighter ace shoots down 6 Nazi planes in one combat. Captain Frederick Christensen, Jr. 22 years old of 11, Wilmit St., Watertown, Mass. A 8th Air Force fighter pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt "The Rozzie Geth" named after his girl friend Miss Rosamund Gethro, also of Watertown, Mass. established a new record in Air Corps history. When he personally encountered 12 enemy craft over Magdeburg, Germany, while escorting B-17 bombers on an early morning mission, he passed them by until he could manouevre into a perfect position with the sun in his tail. The he turned back to attack them and accounted for the downing of six enemy planes. Keystone photo shows: Captain Frederick J. Christensen, Jr. exhibiting figure SIX as he poses for the camera, to denote the number of planes shot down by him in one combat. Bill Jones / pool / I.N.P. / F. Keystone Boston, Mass.'
Connections
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Units
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 56th Fighter Group 62nd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11047421 / O-794920
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Fighter pilot