World War II Honoree

Fred J. Christensen

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Watertown, Massachusetts

Honored By

Diane, Elaine & Janine

Relationship

Daughters

SERVED AS A PILOT IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. FLEW SINGLE-ENGINE P-47 THUNDERBOLTS AS A MEMBER OF THE 56TH FIGHTER GROUP (ZEMKE'S WOLFPACK). COMPLETED 107 COMBAT MISSIONS AND DOWNED 21 GERMAN PLANES ON HIS OWN AND SHARED CREDIT FOR THE 22ND. SHOT DOWN 6 GERMAN TRANSPORT PLANES (JUNKER-52) IN A SINGLE DAY IN 1944 NEAR MAGDEBURG, GERMANY. AWARDED DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS WITH 6 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, SILVER STAR, THE AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND WWII VICTORY MEDAL. RETIRED AFTER OVER 25 YEARS OF HONORABLE MILITARY SERVICE AS A COLONEL, U.S. AIR FORCE.