Fred A Riebe

Military
media-6943.jpeg UPL 6943 Crew #631
Richard Wollstein Crew
466th BG - 786th BS

Standing Left to Right: Fred A. Riebe (B), Richard S. Wollstein (P), Maurus C. Owens (N), James B. Smith (CP).

Kneeling Left to Right: William Scott (Ground Crew Chief), Eldred Schroeder (G), Bernard H. Tighe (FE), Charles J. Vejda (R/O), Steve Lindquist (G), Albert W. Pittman (G), Norman Clark (RWG).

This crew were shot down on 13 August 1944 while flying B-24H-15-FO #42-52529 "Wild Pussy" (name changed to "Wild Princess" per officers' request) Code: U8-B

Wollstein (P), Smith (CP), and Owens (N) were all KIA.
Vejda (R/O), Clark (RWG), and Tighe (FE) all evaded capture and eventually returned to England.
Lindquist had been had been KIA on 17 July 1944 when the crew was hit by flak and forced to crash land B-24H-15-FO #42-52511 on the beach near New Romney, England.
The rest of the crew were made POW for the duration.
466th Bomb Group collection

Joseph M. Owens, son of 1st Lt Maurus C Owens (N)

Object Number - UPL 6943 - Crew #631 Richard Wollstein Crew 466th BG - 786th BS Standing Left to Right: Fred A. Riebe (B), Richard S. Wollstein (P), Maurus C. Owens (N),...

Crashed at Orival in B-24 'Wild Princess' #42-52529, Prisoner of War (POW). MACR 7912.

Connections

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Units served with

Three little girls hold up a balloon celebrating the 100th mission of the 466th Bomb Group in front of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-95592) nicknamed "Black Cat". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'On our 100 Mission party Day- 18 Aug 1944, Attlebridge, 466th- wouldn't it be something if we could identify these girls? How could I do it?'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-692597
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Wild-Pussy/Sully's Saloon
  • Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron

Places

Aerial photograph of Attlebridge airfield, looking north, the fuel store and a T2 hangar are in the upper centre, 31 January 1946. Photograph taken by No. 90 Squadron, sortie number RAF/3G/TUD/UK/51. English Heritage (RAF Photography).
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 13 August 1944 - 1 June 1945 Stalag Luft I

Born

Massea, Minnesota, USA
Wausau, WI, USA 615 MacIntosh Street

Revisions

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Contributorjmoore43
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Sources

Removed the "Possible DUPLICATE" flag in the Nickname field since the dup person has been removed.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added a connection to Stalag Luft I per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Copied "Summary biography" from a Duplicate person as part of a merge operation of dup people so the dup person can be deleted.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Flagged as a "Possible DUPLICATE" in the Nickname field so an Admin can check out this person.

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Contributor466thHistorian
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466th BG Historian

Date
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources

Officers of Attlebridge booklet - 1944

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 7912 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Fred A Riebe: Gallery (1 items)