Frederick Henry Ihlenburg Jr

Military

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.

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

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14084471
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14182673
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13084101 / O-818114
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13040927 / O-700806
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Jeanne Ricky
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Quittin Time
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 548th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Brooklyn, NY 7 July 1919 Son of Frederick H Snr and Louise [Meyer] Ihlenburg.

Enlisted

Mitchel Field, Hempstead, Long Island, NY 3 July 1942 Mitchel Field, Hempstead, Long Island, New York

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

Based

Great Ashfield Assigned to 548BS, 385BG, 8AF USAAF. 35 x combat missions.

Revisions

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ContributorMRB
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From his grandson.

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ContributorMRB
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From his grandson, once again.

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ContributorMRB
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From his grandson, once again.

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ContributorMRB
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I am his grandson.

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ContributorMRB
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I am his grandson. I've heard his stories and have most of his records.

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ContributorMRB
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He is my grandfather.

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ContributorMRB
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He is my grandfather.

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ContributorAAM
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Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / grandson