Frederick Earl Fagan Jr. (1920 - 1943)

Ancestors

Contents 1 Biography of Sgt Frederick Earl Fagan, Jr. 2 Sources 3 Newspaper Clippings 4 See Also

Biography of Sgt Frederick Earl Fagan, Jr.

Stg Frederick E Fagan, Jr.

Frederick Earl Fagan, Jr. was born on 4 Nov 1920 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA. His parents were Frederick Earl Fagan Sarah Michael. ^[1]

Fred grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He completed one year of high school ^[2] and began working as a baggageman for the Pennsylvania railroad. ^[3]

Fred was inducted into the US Army on 9 July 1942 and took radio training at Scott Field, Illinois. He took 5 weeks intensive gunnery classes at Harlinger Army School, Texas. Afterwards he received his silver wings and sergeant's rank in February 1943. ^[4]

Jersey Bounce

Frederick flew several bombing missions aboard the Jersey Bounce over the Holy City of Rome, Italy in an attempt shake the citizens of Rome into rejecting the control of Mussolini and Hitler^[5] For his actions he received the Air Medal. ^[6]

Air Medal.

On 1 Aug 1943, Fred was killed in action when the B-24 Jersey Bounce and the crew flew a mission over the oil field in Ploieşti, Prahova, Romania. Fred was a Radio Operator. According to Wikipedia "The bombing of Ploiești on 1 August 1943 (Operation Tidal Wave) was a far more serious affair. Tidal Wave heavily damaged four refineries and more lightly affected three; it damaged the Ploiești rail station but did not have much impact on the city itself. Câmpina was more severely damaged. 660 American aircrew were killed or captured, while petroleum exports exceeded pre-Tidal Wave levels by October." ^[7] For his actions during this battle Fred received these decorations for the Army Air Force--Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster posthumously. The citation read: For distinguished and meritorious achievements while participating in the operations against the Ploieşti Oil

Distinguished Flying Cross.

Refineries of Rumania on August 1, 1943. In carrying out a low-level, long-range attack on an enemy target of extraordinary importance, these men of the 330th Bombardment Squadron, the 93rd Bombardment Group ^[8]under conditions of great difficulty and danger, contributed immensely to inflicting on the enemy one of the most damaging blows it has ever received. Flying through one of the world's heaviest barrages of flak, and amid swarms of enemy fighter planes, they strafed and bombed their objective, causing very extensive destruction. The fearlessness, devotion to duty, and indomitable fighting spirit they exhibited constitute a magnificent example of heroism for all the men of the United States Army Air Forces. ^[9]

Fred is buried in Paxtang Cemetery, Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania. ^{[10] [11]}

Sources

1. ↑ Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1966
2. ↑ 1940 US Census
3. ↑ Gunner Missing; Harrisburg Telegraph 25 Aug 1943, Wed
4. ↑ Gunner Missing; Harrisburg Telegraph 25 Aug 1943, Wed
5. ↑ http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/america-bombs-rome
6. ↑ Flyer Killed; Haarrisburg Telegraph ; (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)' 4 Nov 1943, Thu • Page 8
7. ↑ [[Wikipedia:/Bombing_of_Romania_in_World_War_II]
8. ↑ https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/72375
9. ↑ Parents Awarded Army Decoration for Son, Killed; Harrisburg Telegraph; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Tue, Nov 30, 1943 – Page 9; Newspapers.com
10. ↑ Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012
11. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #98264744

• 1930 United States Federal Census Year: 1930; Census Place: Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania; Roll: 2026; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0031; Image: 430.0; FHL microfilm: 2341760
• 1940 United States Federal Census Year: 1940; Census Place: Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania; Roll: T627_3482; Page: 21B; Enumeration District: 22-60
• Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1966

Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII, 1950-1966

• Pennsylvania, Veterans Burial Cards, 1777-2012 Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Pennsylvania Veterans Burial Cards, 1950-2010; Series Number: Series 4

Burial Card for Sgt Frederick E Fagan, Jr.

Newspaper Clippings

• Harrisburg Telegraph; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Thu, Nov 4, 1943 – Page 8 Newspapers.com

Flyer Killed Newspaper Article

• Gunner Missing; Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania); 25 Aug 1943, Wed • Page 1

Gunner Missing (page 1)

• Gunner Missing, part 2; Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania); 25 Aug 1943, Wed Page 15

Gunner Missing (page 15)

• Two City Soldiers; The Evening News; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Thu, Nov 4, 1943 – Page 20; Newspapers.com

News Article about Stg Frederick E Fagan

• Parents Awarded Army Decoration for Son, Killed; Harrisburg Telegraph; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Tue, Nov 30, 1943 – Page 9; Newspapers.com

Parents Receive Award for Son

• Parents Receive D.F.C. Awarded to Sgt. Fagan; The Evening News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania); 30 Nov 1943, Tue • Page 11

Parents Receive D.F.C. Awarded to Sgt. Fagan

• Flyer Killed; Haarrisburg Telegraph ; (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania)' 4 Nov 1943, Thu • Page 8

Flyer Killed

• Three City Fliers; The Evening News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania); 17 Nov 1943, Wed • Page 1

Three City Fliers

• Three City Fliers, page 3; The Evening News (Harrisburg, Pennsylvania); 17 Nov 1943, Wed • Page 3

Three City Fliers, page 3

See Also

• American Air Museum in Britain[1]
• This Day in History [2]
• Bombing of Romania in World War Wikipedia:/Bombing_of_Romania_in_World_War_II

Memories: 1