Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until January 14, 1946.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fred served as a Staff Sergeant & Photographer on B-25D "Sorry Satchul" #41-30056, 500th Bomber Squadron, 345th Bomber Group, Medium, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Essex County, New Jersey prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 31, 1941 in Newark, New Jersey. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Photgrapher and also as Single, without dependents.

B-25D #41-30056, along with other B-25's to include B-25D #41-30054, took off from Dobodura, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea on a bombing mission over Rabaul, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea without a fighter escort. Over the target they attacked a 6,000 ton ship which they are believed to have sunk.

While returning to base they were attacked by Japanese enemy fighters. One gunner noted that the B-25's shot down 5 of the fighters. B-25D #41-30056 was severely damaged during the attack and was forced to land in the sea in St. George's Channel, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea.

It is believed that the entire crew survived the landing however they were immediately strafed by multiple Japanese fighters and the entire crew was killed in this Strafing.

Fred was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded the "Silver Star" and the Purple Heart.

Service # 12038642

B-25D #41-30054 was also lost on this mission.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-25D #41-30056:

Behling, Fred W ~ S/Sgt, Photographer, NJ
Durmeyer, Lloyd S ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, LA
Free, Willie F ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, GA
Korczynski, Michael R ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, NY
Peterson, Harlan H ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, IA
Schneider, William J ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, WI

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For airmen who perished on
B-25D #41-30054 see:

Anacker, Lyle E ~ Capt, Pilot, WI

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until January 14, 1946.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Fred served as a Staff Sergeant & Photographer on B-25D "Sorry Satchul" #41-30056, 500th Bomber Squadron, 345th Bomber Group, Medium, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Essex County, New Jersey prior to the war.

He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 31, 1941 in Newark, New Jersey. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Photgrapher and also as Single, without dependents.

B-25D #41-30056, along with other B-25's to include B-25D #41-30054, took off from Dobodura, Oro Province, Papua New Guinea on a bombing mission over Rabaul, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea without a fighter escort. Over the target they attacked a 6,000 ton ship which they are believed to have sunk.

While returning to base they were attacked by Japanese enemy fighters. One gunner noted that the B-25's shot down 5 of the fighters. B-25D #41-30056 was severely damaged during the attack and was forced to land in the sea in St. George's Channel, New Ireland Province, Papua New Guinea.

It is believed that the entire crew survived the landing however they were immediately strafed by multiple Japanese fighters and the entire crew was killed in this Strafing.

Fred was declared "Missing In Action" in this crash during the war.

He was awarded the "Silver Star" and the Purple Heart.

Service # 12038642

B-25D #41-30054 was also lost on this mission.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-25D #41-30056:

Behling, Fred W ~ S/Sgt, Photographer, NJ
Durmeyer, Lloyd S ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, LA
Free, Willie F ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, GA
Korczynski, Michael R ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, NY
Peterson, Harlan H ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, IA
Schneider, William J ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, WI

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

For airmen who perished on
B-25D #41-30054 see:

Anacker, Lyle E ~ Capt, Pilot, WI

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~