Franklin Eldridge Fehr was the son of George Franklin Fehr and Ruby May/Mae Thompson. They were married in Desha County, Arkansas, on 9/4/1921.
The 1940 US Census shows Frank living with his parental family in the Red Fork Township, Desha County, Arkansas. The following family members are shown as living in the home:
Head Franklin Fehr 44 Arkansas
Wife Ruby Mai Fehr 33 Arkansas
Dau Dorothy E. Fehr 17 Arkansas
Son Franklin E. Fehr 15 Arkansas
Son Charles R. Fehr 13 Arkansas
Son Ray L. Fehr 11 Arkansas
Son Jeffie E. Fehr 5 Arkansas
Dau Frances Juanita Fehr 1 Arkansas
Franklin registered for the draft when he turned 18 years of age but rather than wait for his draft notice, he enlisted in the United States Navy and requested duty in the aviation career field. After boot camp and Service Schools completion, Franklin was assigned to VP-42 at Whidbey Island Naval Air Base, Washington.
On 1/17/1944, Thomas and his crew mates boarded a PBY-5A Catalina, Sn #No 34018, for a patrol in and around the Aleutian Island chain. The aircraft took-off on assigned mission at 0919, using call sign 40V215. In accordance with normal Wing instructions, radio silence was maintained until 1042 when home base received an encoded message from this plane stating, "I am returning to base due to mechanical trouble." No further communication was received and frequent calls to this plane were unanswered. The weather the following day was such as to ground all flying. Combined searching by Navy and Army planes and Naval surface craft on January 19th and 20th found no trace of the plane or its crew and they are lost to this day.
The missing crew members were as follows:
Pilot Lt(jg) Andrew R. Porter
Co-Pilot Ens. Vincent W. O'Keefe
Navigator Ens. Martin G. Vincent
Amm3c Franklin E. Fehr
Amm3c Johnie I. Conley
Rm2c Norman R. S. Walker
Rm3c Charles W. Gillam
Aom3c Thomas H. Durham
On 1/18/1945, the crew was declared dead.
Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class Franklin Eldridge Fehr, Sn# 6303485, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Navy Good Conduct Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal (Alaska)
- World War II Victory Medal
**NOTE - Since it does not appear that the aircraft's disappearance was due to enemy aggression, Frank would not have received the Purple Heart Medal for his death.
The 1940 US Census shows Frank living with his parental family in the Red Fork Township, Desha County, Arkansas. The following family members are shown as living in the home:
Head Franklin Fehr 44 Arkansas
Wife Ruby Mai Fehr 33 Arkansas
Dau Dorothy E. Fehr 17 Arkansas
Son Franklin E. Fehr 15 Arkansas
Son Charles R. Fehr 13 Arkansas
Son Ray L. Fehr 11 Arkansas
Son Jeffie E. Fehr 5 Arkansas
Dau Frances Juanita Fehr 1 Arkansas
Franklin registered for the draft when he turned 18 years of age but rather than wait for his draft notice, he enlisted in the United States Navy and requested duty in the aviation career field. After boot camp and Service Schools completion, Franklin was assigned to VP-42 at Whidbey Island Naval Air Base, Washington.
On 1/17/1944, Thomas and his crew mates boarded a PBY-5A Catalina, Sn #No 34018, for a patrol in and around the Aleutian Island chain. The aircraft took-off on assigned mission at 0919, using call sign 40V215. In accordance with normal Wing instructions, radio silence was maintained until 1042 when home base received an encoded message from this plane stating, "I am returning to base due to mechanical trouble." No further communication was received and frequent calls to this plane were unanswered. The weather the following day was such as to ground all flying. Combined searching by Navy and Army planes and Naval surface craft on January 19th and 20th found no trace of the plane or its crew and they are lost to this day.
The missing crew members were as follows:
Pilot Lt(jg) Andrew R. Porter
Co-Pilot Ens. Vincent W. O'Keefe
Navigator Ens. Martin G. Vincent
Amm3c Franklin E. Fehr
Amm3c Johnie I. Conley
Rm2c Norman R. S. Walker
Rm3c Charles W. Gillam
Aom3c Thomas H. Durham
On 1/18/1945, the crew was declared dead.
Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class Franklin Eldridge Fehr, Sn# 6303485, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Navy Good Conduct Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal (Alaska)
- World War II Victory Medal
**NOTE - Since it does not appear that the aircraft's disappearance was due to enemy aggression, Frank would not have received the Purple Heart Medal for his death.
Franklin Eldridge Fehr was the son of George Franklin Fehr and Ruby May/Mae Thompson. They were married in Desha County, Arkansas, on 9/4/1921.
The 1940 US Census shows Frank living with his parental family in the Red Fork Township, Desha County, Arkansas. The following family members are shown as living in the home:
Head Franklin Fehr 44 Arkansas
Wife Ruby Mai Fehr 33 Arkansas
Dau Dorothy E. Fehr 17 Arkansas
Son Franklin E. Fehr 15 Arkansas
Son Charles R. Fehr 13 Arkansas
Son Ray L. Fehr 11 Arkansas
Son Jeffie E. Fehr 5 Arkansas
Dau Frances Juanita Fehr 1 Arkansas
Franklin registered for the draft when he turned 18 years of age but rather than wait for his draft notice, he enlisted in the United States Navy and requested duty in the aviation career field. After boot camp and Service Schools completion, Franklin was assigned to VP-42 at Whidbey Island Naval Air Base, Washington.
On 1/17/1944, Thomas and his crew mates boarded a PBY-5A Catalina, Sn #No 34018, for a patrol in and around the Aleutian Island chain. The aircraft took-off on assigned mission at 0919, using call sign 40V215. In accordance with normal Wing instructions, radio silence was maintained until 1042 when home base received an encoded message from this plane stating, "I am returning to base due to mechanical trouble." No further communication was received and frequent calls to this plane were unanswered. The weather the following day was such as to ground all flying. Combined searching by Navy and Army planes and Naval surface craft on January 19th and 20th found no trace of the plane or its crew and they are lost to this day.
The missing crew members were as follows:
Pilot Lt(jg) Andrew R. Porter
Co-Pilot Ens. Vincent W. O'Keefe
Navigator Ens. Martin G. Vincent
Amm3c Franklin E. Fehr
Amm3c Johnie I. Conley
Rm2c Norman R. S. Walker
Rm3c Charles W. Gillam
Aom3c Thomas H. Durham
On 1/18/1945, the crew was declared dead.
Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class Franklin Eldridge Fehr, Sn# 6303485, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Navy Good Conduct Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal (Alaska)
- World War II Victory Medal
**NOTE - Since it does not appear that the aircraft's disappearance was due to enemy aggression, Frank would not have received the Purple Heart Medal for his death.
The 1940 US Census shows Frank living with his parental family in the Red Fork Township, Desha County, Arkansas. The following family members are shown as living in the home:
Head Franklin Fehr 44 Arkansas
Wife Ruby Mai Fehr 33 Arkansas
Dau Dorothy E. Fehr 17 Arkansas
Son Franklin E. Fehr 15 Arkansas
Son Charles R. Fehr 13 Arkansas
Son Ray L. Fehr 11 Arkansas
Son Jeffie E. Fehr 5 Arkansas
Dau Frances Juanita Fehr 1 Arkansas
Franklin registered for the draft when he turned 18 years of age but rather than wait for his draft notice, he enlisted in the United States Navy and requested duty in the aviation career field. After boot camp and Service Schools completion, Franklin was assigned to VP-42 at Whidbey Island Naval Air Base, Washington.
On 1/17/1944, Thomas and his crew mates boarded a PBY-5A Catalina, Sn #No 34018, for a patrol in and around the Aleutian Island chain. The aircraft took-off on assigned mission at 0919, using call sign 40V215. In accordance with normal Wing instructions, radio silence was maintained until 1042 when home base received an encoded message from this plane stating, "I am returning to base due to mechanical trouble." No further communication was received and frequent calls to this plane were unanswered. The weather the following day was such as to ground all flying. Combined searching by Navy and Army planes and Naval surface craft on January 19th and 20th found no trace of the plane or its crew and they are lost to this day.
The missing crew members were as follows:
Pilot Lt(jg) Andrew R. Porter
Co-Pilot Ens. Vincent W. O'Keefe
Navigator Ens. Martin G. Vincent
Amm3c Franklin E. Fehr
Amm3c Johnie I. Conley
Rm2c Norman R. S. Walker
Rm3c Charles W. Gillam
Aom3c Thomas H. Durham
On 1/18/1945, the crew was declared dead.
Aviation Machinist's Mate Third Class Franklin Eldridge Fehr, Sn# 6303485, earned the following badges/decorations for his service during World War II:
- Navy Good Conduct Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater of Operations Campaign Medal (Alaska)
- World War II Victory Medal
**NOTE - Since it does not appear that the aircraft's disappearance was due to enemy aggression, Frank would not have received the Purple Heart Medal for his death.
Gravesite Details
Entered the service from Arkansas.
Family Members
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