Albert, Frederick D., 1st Lt

Last Known Activity
Frederick D. Albert was born on March 6, 1919, in New York. Official crew records show his name as Frederich; it was really Frederick.

Albert enlisted as a private in the Army Air Forces in New York City on January 20, 1942. His enlistment papers state he had completed 2 years of college (unnamed), and was employed as a general office clerk.

He was trained as a navigator, and assigned to a combat crew. Records show he flew 100 missions by Thanksgiving Day of 1942, (nothing can be found concerning this early tour except a newspaper account) and then was assigned as  the navigator on a crew led by Lt Kleuser. This crew flew 18 missions.

On December 5, 1943, they were scheduled to attack the U-Boat pens at Bordeaux, France. Mechanical trouble made he aircraft drop from formation. It was then attacked by two German fighters, causing severe damage and wounding 4 of the crew. The pilot set a course for England, but found it necessary to ditch the aircraft in the Bay of Biscay.

All the crew survived the ditching, but after they were in the life raft, they were fired on by German troops on shore. Seven were killed, and three taken prisoner. Lt Albert was recovered, and is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York in Section J, Site 13564.


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NARA Enlistment Records
 

Comments/Citation
1 Lt Frederick D. Albert was performing duty as navigator on B-17F # 42-3397, named "Fighting Cock," assigned to the 551st Bomb Squadron.

Missing Air Crew Reports 1337 and 2164 were issued for this loss. Crew records state the crew was:

1 Lt Theodore J. Kleuser  p
2 Lt John W. Slater  c-p
1 Lt Frederich D. Albert  nav
2 Lt Thomas Bentow  bomb
SSgt Ernest A. Hibbard  eng/tt gun
SSgt Walter V. Olomink  r/o
SSgt Stanley Wysokinski  btg
SSgt Leo DeGraw  lwg
SSgt James W. O'Keefe  rwg
SSgt Stewart H. Day  tail gun


Ranks and grades as of mission date.

Service photo source:
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