LT Frederick G. SPENCE |
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UNIT: 351st BOMB Sqdn | POSITION: CP | ||
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Thank you for letting me join your group. I look forward to sharing info with the members of this Facebook Group. As a member of the Foundation 'United Adopters of American War Graves' (SVAAO abbreviated in Dutch) see http://www.svaao.nl/index.php/en/ I specialise in USAAF losses and collect info of the brave air crew who paid the ultimate price for our freedom and are buried at the cemeteries at Margraten (Netherlands), Henri-Chapelle and Ardennes (Belgium). During my research I often find new info which is added to our 'Fields of Honor Database'. From now on I will also share my 100 BG info with this group. To start with, I found a photograph which was not yet available in our database and can now be added. See http://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/american-war-cemetery-ardennes-s/46438-spence-frederick-g Source of the photograph: Pilot Class Book 43-H Blackland Army Air field, Arizona. Best regards, Arie-Jan van Hees. | |||
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Frederick G. Spence (photo courtesy of Carissa Butler) | |||
SERIAL #: O-689321 | STATUS: KIA | ||
MACR: 03023 | CR: 03023 | ||
Comments1: 6 MAR 44 BERLIN (EAC) |
COMMENTS & NOTES
MEMO 1:CREW 1st Lt Edward Handorf P KIA 6/3/44 Berlin 2nd Lt Frederick G.Spence CP KIA " 2nd Lt John W.Dewey N KIA " 2nd Lt Norman L.Rasmussen B KIA " T/Sgt Henry C.Verdeur R KIA " T/Sgt Charles H.Ford E KIA " S/Sgt Allen D.Horton BT KIA " S/Sgt John L.Willsey RW POW " S/Sgt John J.Gverovich LW KIA " S/Sgt Fair C.Lawrence TG POW " (fractured thigh) 35tst Sqdn. Crew,as above,is taken from the MACR. On 8/1/44 Lt.Spence,Lt.Rasmussen and Sgts Horton,Willsey,and Gverovich joined the 100th Also in Jan.1944, Lt.Handorf,Lt.Dewey & Sgts Verdeur & Ford were assigned to the 351st. On 6/3/44,this crew was flying as Deputy Group lead and assumed the lead position when the leader was shot down. The formation was enroute home when a ME 109 came in at 1 o'clock low and sprayed front of A/C with 20mm. Wing tanks began to burn and Willsey Says he "pulled the emergency bomb bay door release,snapped on my chute,and tapped the pilot on the shoulder. He and the co pilot were getting ready to bail out. I stepped through the open bomb bay doors and,while still in the prop wash,the air craft blew up blowing the TG clear. I delayed opening my chute until going through the last layer of clouds about 10,000 feet. The TG & I landed about 60 yards apart. Lawrence had his leg broken and told me to try to escape and leave him alone. About 3 hours later I was captured by some German civi1ians with shot guns." Willsey states that this was his ninth mission.MEMO 2:
KIA / MIA / EVA / INT INFORMATION:
TARGET: Berlin | DATE: 1944-03-06 | |
AIRCRAFT: "Kind-A-Ruff" (42-38011) | CAUSE: ME-109 & Explosion |
BURIAL INFORMATION
PLOT: A | ROW: 41 | |
GRAVE: 52 | CEMETERY: Ardennes, Neuville-en-Cond, Belgium |
PHOTOS:

Frederick G. Spence 351st CP Texas KIA 6 Mar 44 Berlin Edward Handorf Crew (100th Photo Archives)

John Dewey, Fair Lawrence, and Frederick Spence (photo courtesy of Carissa Dewey Butler).