Waist Gunner S/Sgt.William A. De Freese DFC KIA
Hometown: Anniston, Ala.
Squadron: 330th BS 93rd Bomb Group
Service # 34261039
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Capt. Hugh R. Roper SS DFC KIA
Target: Ploesti Concordia Vega refinery (White 2)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-23717
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: H
Aircraft: EXTERMINATOR
Location:
Location: Crashed in the mountains East of Brod Macedonia.
Cause: Mid-air collision with another B24 during withdrawal. Crew of 11 KIA
Sgt. De Freese lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2 August 1st 1943. Coming in at tree top level the Travelin' Circus destroy Romanian oil refineries. Sgt. De Freese was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and heroism.
Capt. Hugh R. Roper and crew were leading the 3rd element of B force, briefed to attack White II at Ploesti oil complex Rumania, but attacked target of opportunity White V.
B24 EXTERMINATOR hit over the target area having a hole punctured in the right wing and several of the crew were wounded. Roper maintained position in formation. Later while withdrawing over the mountains of Macedonia he collided in a cloud bank with B24 42-24121 and broke up in mid air with tail section severed they crashed in the mountains East of Brod. The entire crew were killed, later identified and reinterred to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery after WW2.
Crew of the Exterminator
Capt. Hugh R. Roper Pilot
Capt.John B. White Jr. Navigator
Capt. Jack S. Jones Observer
1/Lt Ted Brannon Bombardier
Fl. Of. William H. Prather Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Walter A. Zablocki . Engineer
T/Sgt. Henry C. Loyd Radio Op.
S/Sgt. William De Freese Gunner
S/Sgt. Earle P. Lemoine Gunner
S/Sgt. Frank Young Gunner
Sgt. John T. Dee Tail Gunner
Hometown: Anniston, Ala.
Squadron: 330th BS 93rd Bomb Group
Service # 34261039
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Capt. Hugh R. Roper SS DFC KIA
Target: Ploesti Concordia Vega refinery (White 2)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-23717
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: H
Aircraft: EXTERMINATOR
Location:
Location: Crashed in the mountains East of Brod Macedonia.
Cause: Mid-air collision with another B24 during withdrawal. Crew of 11 KIA
Sgt. De Freese lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2 August 1st 1943. Coming in at tree top level the Travelin' Circus destroy Romanian oil refineries. Sgt. De Freese was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and heroism.
Capt. Hugh R. Roper and crew were leading the 3rd element of B force, briefed to attack White II at Ploesti oil complex Rumania, but attacked target of opportunity White V.
B24 EXTERMINATOR hit over the target area having a hole punctured in the right wing and several of the crew were wounded. Roper maintained position in formation. Later while withdrawing over the mountains of Macedonia he collided in a cloud bank with B24 42-24121 and broke up in mid air with tail section severed they crashed in the mountains East of Brod. The entire crew were killed, later identified and reinterred to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery after WW2.
Crew of the Exterminator
Capt. Hugh R. Roper Pilot
Capt.John B. White Jr. Navigator
Capt. Jack S. Jones Observer
1/Lt Ted Brannon Bombardier
Fl. Of. William H. Prather Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Walter A. Zablocki . Engineer
T/Sgt. Henry C. Loyd Radio Op.
S/Sgt. William De Freese Gunner
S/Sgt. Earle P. Lemoine Gunner
S/Sgt. Frank Young Gunner
Sgt. John T. Dee Tail Gunner
Waist Gunner S/Sgt.William A. De Freese DFC KIA
Hometown: Anniston, Ala.
Squadron: 330th BS 93rd Bomb Group
Service # 34261039
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Capt. Hugh R. Roper SS DFC KIA
Target: Ploesti Concordia Vega refinery (White 2)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-23717
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: H
Aircraft: EXTERMINATOR
Location:
Location: Crashed in the mountains East of Brod Macedonia.
Cause: Mid-air collision with another B24 during withdrawal. Crew of 11 KIA
Sgt. De Freese lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2 August 1st 1943. Coming in at tree top level the Travelin' Circus destroy Romanian oil refineries. Sgt. De Freese was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and heroism.
Capt. Hugh R. Roper and crew were leading the 3rd element of B force, briefed to attack White II at Ploesti oil complex Rumania, but attacked target of opportunity White V.
B24 EXTERMINATOR hit over the target area having a hole punctured in the right wing and several of the crew were wounded. Roper maintained position in formation. Later while withdrawing over the mountains of Macedonia he collided in a cloud bank with B24 42-24121 and broke up in mid air with tail section severed they crashed in the mountains East of Brod. The entire crew were killed, later identified and reinterred to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery after WW2.
Crew of the Exterminator
Capt. Hugh R. Roper Pilot
Capt.John B. White Jr. Navigator
Capt. Jack S. Jones Observer
1/Lt Ted Brannon Bombardier
Fl. Of. William H. Prather Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Walter A. Zablocki . Engineer
T/Sgt. Henry C. Loyd Radio Op.
S/Sgt. William De Freese Gunner
S/Sgt. Earle P. Lemoine Gunner
S/Sgt. Frank Young Gunner
Sgt. John T. Dee Tail Gunner
Hometown: Anniston, Ala.
Squadron: 330th BS 93rd Bomb Group
Service # 34261039
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, Purple Heart
Pilot Capt. Hugh R. Roper SS DFC KIA
Target: Ploesti Concordia Vega refinery (White 2)
Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF MACR#:
Date Lost: 1-Aug-43
Serial Number: 41-23717
Aircraft Model B-24D
Aircraft Letter: H
Aircraft: EXTERMINATOR
Location:
Location: Crashed in the mountains East of Brod Macedonia.
Cause: Mid-air collision with another B24 during withdrawal. Crew of 11 KIA
Sgt. De Freese lost his life in the Ploesti raid "Operation Tidal Wave" one of the most daring raids of WW2 August 1st 1943. Coming in at tree top level the Travelin' Circus destroy Romanian oil refineries. Sgt. De Freese was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross for his valor and heroism.
Capt. Hugh R. Roper and crew were leading the 3rd element of B force, briefed to attack White II at Ploesti oil complex Rumania, but attacked target of opportunity White V.
B24 EXTERMINATOR hit over the target area having a hole punctured in the right wing and several of the crew were wounded. Roper maintained position in formation. Later while withdrawing over the mountains of Macedonia he collided in a cloud bank with B24 42-24121 and broke up in mid air with tail section severed they crashed in the mountains East of Brod. The entire crew were killed, later identified and reinterred to Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery after WW2.
Crew of the Exterminator
Capt. Hugh R. Roper Pilot
Capt.John B. White Jr. Navigator
Capt. Jack S. Jones Observer
1/Lt Ted Brannon Bombardier
Fl. Of. William H. Prather Co Pilot
T/Sgt. Walter A. Zablocki . Engineer
T/Sgt. Henry C. Loyd Radio Op.
S/Sgt. William De Freese Gunner
S/Sgt. Earle P. Lemoine Gunner
S/Sgt. Frank Young Gunner
Sgt. John T. Dee Tail Gunner
Inscription
SSGT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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