Assigned to 548BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. 35 x combat missions. ETD
"He always talked about his mission on 8 May 44. It was aboard B-17 42-97530 known as Quittin Time'. The mission to Berlin. The oxygen ran out, had to leave formation; e/a shot out #2 engine and both gas tanks in left wing, BT & TG shot a Me109 each, lost another eng & radio, 5 spars cut and 67 holes. Landed at RAF base where upon touching down one of the wings pretty much broke off. Received first DFC for this mission. It was on this day that the plane he named "Jeanne Ricky" (called Gin Ricky by the men) was shot down. His navigator, Clem Irons, was being tested for lead navigator on that mission so the rest of the crew was assigned to a different AC. Clem and the test crew were shot down and became POWs."
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Service
People
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Waist Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Assigned to 548th 385BG, 8AF USAAF. Flew on B-17 'Jeanne Rickey' for 25 x combat missions. Had 2 x missions on D-Day, 4 x bombing missions to Berlin.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Assigned to 548th 385BG, 8AF USAAF. 34 x combat missions. Claimed Me109 on 8-May-44 Berlin mission in B-17 42-97530, flying tail gunner for 1Lt Frederick H Ihlenburg. "Quittin' Time" and crew barely made it home over white cliffs of Dover to an RAF...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
Assigned to 548th 385BG, 8AF USAAF. 35 x combat missions. Had sun glasses shot off his nose on 8-May-44 Berlin mission in B-17 42-97530, co-piloting for 1Lt Frederick H Ihlenburg. "Quittin' Time" and crew barely made it home over white cliffs of Dover...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 385th Bomb Group
Assigned to 548BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Berlin in B-17 42-31786 'Gin Ricky' 8-May-44; hit by enemy aircraft KO'd #3 engine, crashed Worphausen, 9 miles NE of Bremen. Prisoner of War (POW) MACR 4563
Awards: POW, WWII Victory, EAME.
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Military | First Lieutenant | Navigator | 385th Bomb Group
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Units served with
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Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 14/12/43; Gt Falls 20/12/43; Kearney 1/1/44; Grenier 21/1/44; Assigned 548BS/385BG [GX-L] Gt Ashfield 2/2/44; Missing in Action Berlin 8/5/44 with Andy Drobysh, Co-pilot: Harry Gousha, Navigator: Clem Irons, Bombardier: Bob Hudson,...
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 13/12/43; Kearney 28/12/43; Presque Is 21/1/44; Assigned 548BS/385BG [GX-E] Gt Ashfield 25/1/44; Returned to the USA Bradley 26/6/45; 4168 Base Unit, South Plains, Texas 21/10/45; Reconstruction Finance Corporation (sold for scrap...
Associated Place
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Military site : airfield
The airfield was built in 1942 by John Laing & Son Ltd. 108,000 tons of concrete was used in its construction, creating a Class 'A' airfield suitable for heavy bombers. The 385th Bomb Group took up residence in the summer of 1943, and remained at the...
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Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
Brooklyn, NY |
7 July 1919 |
Son of Frederick H Snr and Louise [Meyer] Ihlenburg.
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Enlisted |
Mitchel Field, Hempstead, Long Island, NY |
3 July 1942 |
Mitchel Field, Hempstead,
Long Island, New York
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Based |
Great Ashfield |
1944 – 1944 |
Assigned to 548BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. 35 x combat missions.
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Died |
Portland, OR, USA |
4 April 2001 |
Buried |
Willamette National Cemetery Portland, Multnomah County, OR |
9 April 2001 |
Willamette National Cemetery
Portland,
Multnomah County, OR
Section 6A Site 408
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