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Personal info

Full name
RICH, Fred Anthony
Date of birth
14 June 1924
Age
20
Place of birth
Orange, Essex County, New Jersey
Hometown
Los Angeles County, California

Military service

Service number
39276079
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer/Gunner
Unit
68th Bombardment Squadron,
44th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
7 July 1944
Place of death
Near Steinhalleben, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 37 16

Immediate family

Members
Fred Rich (father)
Josephine Rich (mother)
Frank Rich (brother)
Alexander Rich (brother)
Alfred Rich (brother)
Albert Rich (brother)
Edith L. Rich (wife)

Plane data

Serial number
42-110035
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Any Gum Chum
Destination: Bernburg, Germany
Mission: aircraft factory
MACR: 7355

More information

T/Sgt Fred A. Rich attended James Garfield High School. He was a shipping and receiving clerk.

He enlisted in Los Angeles, California, on 21 January 1943.

Statement from 2nd Lt John F. Sarvis: "Aircraft #035 was hit by the first enemy A/C attack on this formation at 0928 at the I.P. Number 4 engine was shot out and began smoking. The aircraft went into a steep right bank. One crew reports that this plane crashed, and that no chutes were seen. Since this formation was under heavy fighter attack at this time, observations were negligible."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / 1940 Census, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Garfield High School 1940