Frederic C Martini

Military

Joined 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

The insignia of the 385th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

42-31762 Junior, Crash Wagon III
  • 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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Capitalized the words in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

Date
ContributorFrederic Martini
Changes
Sources

Family information and Army records

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

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