S/Sgt. Henry Nelson Frees Jr.
Born: 23 July 1915 – Duluth, Minnesota
Parents: Henry N. Frees Sr. and Blanche Sawtelle-Frees
Home:
– 411 North Second Avenue – Maywood, Illinois
Siblings: 3 brothers
Education:
– Lincoln Grade School
– Proviso Township High School
– Class of 1935
– Elmhurst College, Elmhurst, Illinois
Selective Service Registration: 16 October 1940
Contact Person: Blanche Frees – mother
Wife: Elenore
Inducted:
– Unknown
– U.S. Army Air Corps
Serial Number: 16079249
Training:
– University of Miami
– Scott Field, Illinois
– Selman Field, Louisiana
– navigator training
– Clovis Field, New Mexico
Duty: Radioman
Unit:
– 20th Air Force, 58th Bombardment Wing, 40th Bombardment Group, 45th Bomb Squadron,(Very Heavy)
– 25 missions over China, Burma, India, Japan
Died:
– 30 August 1945
– the plane was on POW food drop mission to POWs in Miyata Camp #12, Japan
– plane wing clipped mountain and the plane crashed into Mount Sobo
– since the crash site initially could not be located crew was listed as “Missing”
Buried:
– Yokohama Military Cemetery
– the crew initially buried there after crash site was found
– Frees’ family requested his remains be returned to the United States
Reburied:
– Rock Island National Cemetery – Rock Island, Illinois
– Section: E Site: 191
Medals:
– Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
– Purple Heart
– Three Presidential Unit Citations
– Distinguished Flying Cross
