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

Object Number - UPL 31882 - SSGT Fred S Justus Waist Gunner Ora Castrup Crew Only survivor of his crew after being shot down 31 July 1944

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

The insignia of the 388th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • 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

Missions

Places

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

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "-" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.

Date
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

Fred Stuart Justus: Gallery (2 items)