Frank Albert Welke Jr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-39704.jpeg UPL 39704 Sam Peak crew. Photo taken spring 1944 at Alexandria Air Base in Alexandria, Louisiana.
Front Row L to R: Samuel L. Peak, Victor R. Romasco, Thomas J. Tracy, Allen Osterberg. Back Row L to R: Murl F. Simmons, Richard Oberlin, Frank A. Welke Jr., Robert F. Scharff, Redin R. Kilpatrick, Max L. Rockey.
Kilpatrick and Tracy not assigned with 534th BS.

Photo courtesy of Allen Osterberg family and Delta County Historical Society

Object Number - UPL 39704 - Sam Peak crew. Photo taken spring 1944 at Alexandria Air Base in Alexandria, Louisiana. Front Row L to R: Samuel L. Peak, Victor R. Romasco, Thomas...

Killed in Action (KIA) 22 June 1944 in AC 42-97084

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-676081
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-741356
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier, Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-398074
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-801198
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot / Pilot

Aircraft

B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 381st Bomb Group fly in formation. B-17s (GD-H, serial number 42-97064) and (GD-K, serial number 42-97076) nicknamed "Dee Marie" are visible in the foreground. Image via George J Letzer. Printed caption on reverse: 'Boeing B-17G-40-BO.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Spare Charlie
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Queens, New York 21 September 1923

Enlisted

New York 10 February 1943

Died

Killed in action

Abbeville, France 22 June 1944 Shot down in B-17 "Spare Charlie". The plane crashed in Les Marais d'Épagnette, outside of Abbeville.

Buried

Mareuil-Caubert, France 26 June 1944 After Sgt. Welke's plane crashed on 22 June, the Germans recovered some bodies, including Sgt. Welke. They took his identification tags. Between 24 and 26 June, Sgt. Welke's body was recovered by French citizens. He was buried in grave 305 as unknown next to his crew members in Mareuil-Caubert.

Buried

St. André de l'Eure, France 7 July 1945 Buried in Plot H, Row 1, Grave 16 in the temporary St. André de l'Eure cemetery. Sgt. Welke was buried between crew members Murl Simmons and Bob Petroski.

Buried

Greenfield Cemetery, Uniondale, New York 25 May 1949 Permanently buried.

Revisions

Date
Contributorcamillemnoel
Changes
Sources

Update to dates

Date
Contributorcamillemnoel
Changes
Sources

Update to dates

Date
Contributorcamillemnoel
Changes
Sources

Update to name, awards, and dates

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999, MACR 5918 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Frank Albert Welke: Gallery (1 items)