Jacob W. Fredericks Crew

JACOB W. FREDERICKS CREW - 360th BS
B-17F Snap! Crackle! Pop! #41-24620 (PU-O)
(original crew assigned 360BS: 23 June 1942 - photo: 14 Oct 1942)

(Back L-R) 1Lt Jacob W. Fredericks (P), 2Lt Arthur C. Way (CP),
2Lt Otis A. Hoyt (N), 2Lt Milton S. Fonorow (B)

(Front L-R) T/Sgt Michael S. Hlastala (E), S/Sgt Henry G. Schneiderman (WG),
T/Sgt Richard J. Smith (R), S/Sgt Howard Henry Nardine (BTG), S/Sgt Gilbert A. Murray, Jr (TG)

S/Sgt Harvie L. Collins (WG) (not in photo) was also a regular crewmen but didn't make the overseas flight from USA to Molesworth with the rest of his crew. Passenger on the flight from the USA to Molesworth was M/Sgt Nicolai Hansen (not in photo).

Twenty five credited combat missions flown by Captain Jacob W. Fredericks:
1(*) (17 Nov 1942), 2(*), 5*(FTO), 6(*)(AS), 8*, 10, 11, 13(FTO), 15(AS), 16, 17, 18, 20, 21 (AS), 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 33, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42 (13 June 1943).
(*) Four missions flown in 360th BS B-17F #41-24620 Snap! Crackle! Pop! (PU-O) (FTO) Failed to takeoff - non-credited mission (AS) Credited Abortive Sortie - no bombs dropped. See mission list for mission dates and targets.

Crew Notes:

Capt Jacob W. Fredericks (P) - Flew on seven missions as Lead Crew CoPilot with the following pilots: Richard Callaway - (#1); Lewis E. Lyle (#17, 29, 39, 41, 42); Eugene A. Romig (#27). 25 mission combat tour completed on 13 June 1942.
1Lt Arthur C. Way (CP) - Flew on 15 credited missions with Capt Fredericks. Dispatched on four missions with other Pilots (#30(A), 31, 33, 39). Substitute CoPilots used on two missions (#6, 33). Upgraded from CoPilot to Pilot on 28 April 1943 and flew as First Pilot on seven missions (#48, 49, 51, 52, 53, 55, 56). 25 missions combat tour completed on 15 August 1943
1Lt Otis A. Hoyt (N) - Flew on 23 credited missions with Capt Fredericks. Two missions with other Pilots - John A. Castle (#7), Lewis E. Lyle (#19). 25 mission combat tour completed on 13 June 1942. Substitute Navigator used on first mission (#1)
1Lt Milton S. Fonorow (B) - Flew on 19 credited missions with Capt Fredericks. Six missions with other Pilots: Lewis E. Lyle (#20, 26, 36, 48); John W. Farrar (#35); Lloyd D. Griffin (#48). 25 mission combat tour completed on 4 July 1943. Substitute Bombardiers used on six missions (#15, 16, 17, 20, 26, 37)
T/Sgt Michael S. Hlastala (E) - Flew on 22 missions with Capt Fredericks. Three missions with Capt George V. Stallings, Jr. (#43, 43A, 44). Was wounded and bailed out on his last mission with Capt Stallings. 25 mission combat tour completed on 25 June 1943
T/Sgt Richard J. Smith (R) - All missions flown with Capt Fredericks. 25 mission combat tour completed on 13 June 1943
S/Sgt Howard L. Nardine (BTG) - Flew on 24 missions with Capt Fredericks. Substitute BTG used on one mission (#42). 25 mission combat tour completed on 11 May 1943.
S/Sgt Henry G. Schneiderman (WG) - Flew on 23 missions with Capt Fredericks. Two missions with other Pilots: Loyd A. Griffin (#43A as an observer); John J. Casello (#45 as a nose gunner). Substitute WG used on two mission (#1, 25). 25 mission combat tour completed on 26 June 1943.
S/Sgt Harvey L. Collings (WG). Flew on 23 missions with Capt Fredericks. Two missions with other Pilots: Joseph Palmer (#43A); Arthur J. Way (#48 as an Observer). 25 mission combat tour completed on 4 July 1943.
Sgt Gilbert A. Murray. Jr. (TG) - Flew on 21 missions with Capt Fredericks - Two as Engineer (# 27, 37), one as Waist Gunner (#38), others as Tail Gunner. Dispatched on five missions with other Pilots: John A. Castle (#4, 7), Lewis E. Lyle (#19, 31), Joseph A. Trojan (#39 as Nose Gunner - non-credit aborted mission). Substitute TG used on seven missions (#27, 28, 37, 38, 39, 41, 42). Completed 25 mission combat tour on 29 May 1943.
Other crew members - Had an 11th crewman on six missions: Lt Paul S. Tippett (#15 as an Observer); Homer Bigart - Newspaper Correspondent (#17 as a Passenger); Lt Thomas S. Vaughn (#18 as a Photographer); Capt Leon W. Blythe (#28 as an Observer); Col B.J. Peaslee - Commanding Officer 384th BG(H) (#41 as an Observer); 1Lt George T. Mackin (#42 as an Observer). Had two Navigators on two missions (#27, 39)

B-17F 41-24620 Snap! Crackle! Pop! (360BS) PU-O:
Prior to WWII Jake Fredericks worked with the Kellogg Company in Battle Creek, Michigan serving as Director of their Engineering Development section. The Fredericks crew picked up their new B-17F at Kellogg Field, Battle Creek, MI, In October 1942, where a design artist friend at Kellogg painted on the nose art Snap! Crackle! Pop!. His B-17 later crashed with another aircraft over St. Nazaire, France on 3 January 1943 on it's fifth combat mission The Germans cut off a panel of the B-17 with the nose art and exhibited it in the German headquarters building in St. Nazaire. When St. Nazaire was liberated the Germans tossed the nose art panel in a ravine where it was rescued by some Frenchmen. It still exists at an unknown location in St. Nazaire.

Crew Note - Captain Jacob W. "Jake" Fredericks:
Captain Fredericks flew on the first 303rd mission on 17 November 1942 and completed his 25 mission combat tour on 13 June 1943 (303rd mission 42). He flew on many of the 303rd most dangerous missions and none of his crewman were injured. He was then transferred to an assignment with Headquarters Third Air Division as Director of Operational Research and Plans at Elveden Hall where he remained until the end of WWII. Immediately after VE-Day Jake Fredericks was assigned to direct the liberation of the Matthausen Concentration Camp and later to interview many of the top German wartime leaders after they were taken prisoner. The interviews were top secret at the time but some were later published in the United States Strategic Bombing Survey. Following V-J day LtCol Fredericks was sent as a part of a special team to interview Japanese military leaders and to examine Japanese war production plans, many of which were underground in Japanese mountain country. His later post-war service was with the Central Intelligence Agency and the Ford Foundation. Jake was instrumental in working with developing nations in Africa, serving with the Department of States during the Presidential administrations of President Kennedy and Johnson in Washington, DC. The 303rd BG(H) can be very proud of his combat service while with the 303rd and his remarkable activities after he left the 303rd and following WWII.

[photo from the 303rdBGA Archives]
[Researched by Historian Harry D. Gobrecht]