Frank Louis Arnold
MilitaryBorn 8 December 1924 Des Moires, Polk County, IA. Enlisted in Army Air Force 23 Jan 1943 at Camp Dodge Harold, IA. 3 years High School, Single, no dependents, Height: 68 inches, wt: 182. Departed US: 20 April 1944. Was stationed at Thurleigh, near Bedford, England in the 8th Air Force, 306 Bomber Group, 368 Bomber Squadron. Reported 13 April 1944. Was orginally part of Charles Triggs' crew. Crew member on a bombing mission on 29 Dec 1944 to Bingen-on-the-Rhine, Germany in B-17 #43-39031 [Weollner] He was togglier/gunner in nine man crew. Just after bombs away, AC was hit by Flak shell. Since bomb bay doors were still open fragments came into that area and started a fire. AC hit in other places. AC left formation to the right and started a downward spiral. All members of the crew were able to bail out. Five crew members including Sgt Arnold were captured and sent to POW camps. Four crew members were KIA. He spent the rest of the war as Prisoner of War (POW). Returned to the USA 3 June 1945, separated from the Army 29 Sept 1945. Died 23 May 1996 in Midwest City, OK Buried Oklahoma City, OK. in Arlington Memorial Gardens Cemetery.
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
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 368th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 29 December 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Des Moines, Iowa, USA | 8 December 1924 | |
Enlisted |
23 June 1943 | ||
Died |
Midwest City, OK, USA | 23 May 1995 | |
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Germany | 29 December 1944 | |
Buried |
Arlington Memorial Gardens, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, OK Plot: Sect 31, lot 184, spaceB |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11254 / MACR 11254, First Over Germany pg. 297, / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database