Frederic C Martini
MilitaryJoined in August 1941, trained as a quartermaster. Volunteered for air service after the war started. Went to gunnery school and mechanics school. Joined Lt Loren Jackson crew when it formed at Drew Field, FL. Flew to ETO in April 1944, plane crashed on landing due to broken landing gear. Second plane named Crashwagon II ditched in English channel 24 May 1944. Third plane B-17 'Crash Wagon III' was #42-97818 but it was in the maintenance bay on 12 June and they called their substitute plane (#42-31762, aka "Junior") Crashwagon III for good luck. They had little of that; hit by flak, crashed at Boisemont 12 Jun 1944. He was sheltered by the resistance in Hacqueville for 2 months, then betrayed by Jacques Desoubrie. Beaten, taken to Fresnes Prison, then boxcarred to Buchenwald on 15 August 44 with 2000+ French civilians. Survived 2 months in Buchenwald before Luftwaffe transferred him to SL III. Forced march through blizzard to reach train to Stalag VIIA where he remained until the camp was liberated by the 3rd Army. Returned to US severely traumatized but all information on his record was classified Secret and the US government denied he'd been in Buchenwald until 35-40 years later.
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
- Nicknames: Junior, Crash Wagon III
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Konzentrationslager Buchenwald
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
18 October 1918 | ||
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
5 August 1944 - 29 April 1945 | Picked up by Gestapo in Paris, held in Fresnes Prison, sent to Buchenwald, transferred to SL III, forced evac to Stalag VIIA | |
Died |
21 September 1995 | Died in Bradenton, Florida | |
Buried |
Cremated and ashes scattered at sea. Memorial plaque at Maui Veteran's Cemetery, Makawao HI |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 5628 / MACR 5628, son Frederick H. Martini / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database