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Looking for information Capt. Fricks Mission 44 / Bremen

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Michael Land
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Looking for information Capt. Fricks Mission 44 / Bremen

Captain Robert O. Fricks (534th BG) was the first to complete 25 missions with the 381st.
Which aircraft was Capt.Fricks flying November 20th (?) 1943 on his 25th mission.
This would have been Mission 44 Bremen
Thanks in advance

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    RSwank
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    Re:Looking for information Capt. Fricks Mission 44 / Bremen (permalink)
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    Capt Robert O Fricks 25th mission was on 26 Nov 1943 to Bremen according to:
    http://www.381st.org/UnitHistory/WarDiaries/534thBSWarDiary.aspx
     
    (Nov)  "26. After being scrubbed twice in a row, the mission to Bremen, Germany was finally pulled.  Six of our A/C flew high squadron of the composite group that flew with the 1st Combat Bomb Wing, the other A/C with Capt. Robert O. Fricks and crew flew in the lead squadron of the Group.  All A/C except Lt. Hytinen’s 845 bombed the target area successfully.  Results of bombing were unobserved as crews reported heavy cloud coverage and haze.  AA Fire over the target was reported as intense but meager on the way in and out.  Little or no fighter opposition was experienced as fighter support was described as “excellent”.  Flying their 25th mission were Capt. Robert O. Fricks and S/Sgt. Daniel A. Vina.  Crew Captains that took part are: Capt. Robert Fricks, Lt. D. Hagarty, Lt. Silvernale, Lt. W. Schomburg, Lt. H. Hytinen, and Lt R. Niederriter."
     
    Unfortunately, the plane he flew on that day is not mentioned.  He had flown 42-30012  GD-K  several times earlier according to the log link above,  but they stopped consistently listing the plane numbers before this 25th mission.   Besides, it would appear that 42-30012 was lost on 9 OCT according to 381st plane list:
    http://www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/AircraftInventory.aspx
    so that was not it.  The info may exist elsewhere.
    Fold3.com has a picture of Fricks and crew apparently taken 27 OCT 43.  

     
    http://www.fold3.com/image/#32171216
     
    Capt Robert O. Fricks crew :
    Martin H. Downey (copilot)
    Raymond P. Lyons (navigator)
    Raymond W. Nicholson (bombardier)
    Dallas W. Vaughn (radio)
    Guy F. Phillips (top turret gunner engineer) 
    William F. Vance (ball turret gunner)
    Johnc C. Winkle (right waist gunner)
    James E. West (left waist gunner)
    Robert B. Calhoun (tail gunner)
    post edited by RSwank -
    Michael Land
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    Re:Looking for information Capt. Fricks Mission 44 / Bremen (permalink)
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    Thank you RSwank for that info.
    Miss Fortune
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    Re:Looking for information Capt. Fricks Mission 44 / Bremen (permalink)
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    GD-K...?????
     
     
     
    RSwank
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    Re:Looking for information Capt. Fricks Mission 44 / Bremen (permalink)
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    Reference to  42-30012 as   GD-K can be found here.
    http://www.381st.org/UnitHistory/Data/AircraftInventory.aspx
    or here:
    http://forum.armyairforces.com/m118694-print.aspx
     
     
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