Joseph Frank Fertitta
MilitaryJoseph Fertitta was Tail Gunner on B-17F #42-3029 "Wallaroo", shot down by Flak on mission to V-weapons site at Le Meillard, France on 14 January 1944. Had completed 3 missions. Prisoner of War (POW). Sent to the Luftwaffe Interrogation Center at Dulag Luft, Oberursel (Frankfurt). NARA WWII POW record : "Interned at Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia, then moved to Wobbelin bei Ludwigslust and to Usedom Bei Savenmunde."
Air Crew Wings, Caterpillar Club Member, POW Medal, EAME Medal, WW II Victory medal.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16061078 / O-742551
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-752544
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13084785
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18118979
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31192480
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Wallaroo
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 14 January 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow, Pomerania
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Beaumont, Jefferson County, Texas, United States | 24 July 1922 | |
Enlisted |
30 October 1942 | Houston, Texas | |
Other Prisoner Of War (POW) |
14 January 1944 | Interned Stalag Luft 4, Gross Tychow/Tychow, Poland. NARA WWII POW database : " Returned to military control (RMC) 11 May 1945." | |
Died |
23 July 2008 | Beaumont, Texas | |
Beaumont, Texas | |||
Buried |
Joseph Fertitta rests at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont, Texas |
Revisions
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft Card
NARA WWII POW records
Veterans Affairs BIRLS death File
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1965, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces, Roster