Fred Stuart Justus
Military
media-31882.jpeg
UPL 31882
SSGT Fred S Justus
Waist Gunner
Ora Castrup Crew
Only survivor of his crew after being shot down 31 July 1944 388th Bomb Group collection
Waist Gunner
Ora Castrup Crew
Only survivor of his crew after being shot down 31 July 1944 388th Bomb Group collection
Shot down by flak and crashed at Schleissheim on 7/31/44 in B-17 "Devil's Luck" #42-32030, Prisoner of War (POW).
POW
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: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-756179
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Devil's Luck
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Smithville, AR 72466, USA | 26 May 1922 | |
Enlisted |
Little Rock, AR, USA | 10 September 1942 | |
Died |
Jonesboro, AR, USA | 12 December 2015 | Fred Stuart Justus Sr., 93, of Jonesboro, Arkansas passed from this life Dec. 12, 2015, at NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital. He was born May 26, 1922, in Smithville, Arkansas to Barney and Mae Justus. Fred has lived in the Jonesboro area for the majority of his life after moving from Paragould. He was a longtime member of Walnut Street Baptist Church. Fred earned degrees from Arkansas State College (now ASU) and the University of Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army Air Corps. He was a World War II veteran. Fred received a Purple Heart from injuries he suffered when he was shot down in World War II. Fred was the sole survivor who parachuted from a B-17 airplane to save his life while being shot down over Munich, Germany. He received two Bronze Stars, a Prisoner of War Medal and a Caterpillar medal. Fred was a member of the American Legion and the Loyal Order of the Purple Heart, while also being a part of the Caterpillar Club. In addition to his parents, Barney and Mae Justus, Fred is preceded in death by two sisters, Dorothy Reeves and Martha Lyles; and two brothers, Cline Justus and Jewel Justus. Fred is survived by his loving wife of 69 years of marriage, Jennie Waddell Justus; one son, Fred Stuart Justus Jr. of Jonesboro; two daughters, Melissa Justus Goodson (Robert) of Helena and Justina Justus Lamb (Harold) of Imboden; one sister, Glenna Justus Draffen (Ray) of Montgomery, Ala.; four grand-children, Marty Lamb, Stacy Lamb Aldridge (Roy), Andy Lamb and Blake Goodson; eight great-grand-daughters; and two great-great grandsons. Services were held at Walnut Street Baptist Church prior to the funeral service. Burial was at Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery. Jonesboro Sun obits, December 14, 2015 |
Other Shot Down/Captured |
Schleissheim, Oberschleißheim, Germany | 31 July 1944 |
Revisions
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources
Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7744 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database