William Freidkas

Military
media-19045.png UPL 19045 Plaque in memory of the 7 crew members of 42-72873 who lost their lives on the night of 5 July 1944. Location : at the entrance to the municipal cemetery of Trancrainville (Eure-et-Loir), France.
Seven Killed In Action (KIA) : Pilot John O. Broten; Navigator Roy C. Gehue; Bombardier Alfred C. Emert; Radio Operator William Freidkas; Top Turret Gunner Harry L. Sparks; Left Waist Gunner Jessie R. Ellis; Tail Gunner Michael J. Pranzetelli. - Photo : family of the sole survivor, Co-Pilot Edward Tappan,

MACR 6990
Research on the crew

Object Number - UPL 19045 - Plaque in memory of the 7 crew members of 42-72873 who lost their lives on the night of 5 July 1944. Location : at the entrance to the municipal...

William Freidkas enlisted in the Air Corps in March 1943. After his training as a Radio Operator, he was sent overseas and served in that function in the 801st Bomb Group/ 36th Bomb Squadron in England. Killed in the loss of B-24D '"Star Spangled Hell", #42-72873. Took off from Harrington at 23:13hrs on 4 July 1944 on a secret Carpetbagger mission of weapons and supplies delivery to the French Underground in the Loir-et-Cher area, France. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 6990. After successful drop, shot down by ME110 over Orléans, France. A/c caught fire and crashed at 00:10hrs, 5 July, near Champgirault at Trancrainville (Eure and Loire). Co-Pilot Edward Tappan was the only survivor. William Freidkas and 6 other members of the 8-man crew were killed in the mid-air explosion and they are commemorated on a plaque on a wall at the entrance to the Trancrainville cemetery.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 36th Bomb Squadron (Radar Counter Measures).
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A B-24D Liberator 'Carpetbagger' - extensively modified for specialised operations - taxiis on the perimeter track at Harrington airfield. Printed caption on reverse: 'A Carpetbagger B-24D taxiing on the perimeter at Harrington. Photo - "Red" Monaghan.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 492nd Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-1574610 and 32206722 on enlisting
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 18098768
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator/Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 850th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 14132120 and O-688180
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 850th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 14025966 and O-707382
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 31331737
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Raggedy Ann II, Star Spangled Hell
  • Unit: 44th Bomb Group 801st Bomb Group 36th Bomb Squadron 67th Bomb Squadron 492nd Bomb Group

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Bronx, New York 9 July 1924

Enlisted

New York City, New York, United States 11 March 1943

Died

near Trancrainville, Eure-et-Loir, France 5 July 1944 Killed In Action (KIA) in the crash of B-24 # 42-72873
Bronx County, New York, United States

Buried

Wellwood Cemetery, East Farmingdale, New York, United States Initially buried at the Les Aubrais cemetery in Orléans; reinterred at the temporary US Military Cemetery in Solers near Melun (Seine-et-Marne), France. His remains were repatriated to the United States.

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 6990
NARA WWII Enlistment records
www.801492.org
Research for Edward Tappan’s page at http://www.evasioncomete.org/ftappaned.html

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

801st BG Roster, http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm">http://www.801492.org/MainMenu.htm>;  Losses of 8thAF, vol4. / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

William Freidkas: Gallery (3 items)