World War II Honoree

Frederick R. Prehn

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Forest Park, Illinois

Honored By

Carol Wood, Bill, Judy Kling, Steve, Nancy Meyers, Mike, Debbie Zeiger, Bill

Relationship

Daughters & Sons-in-law

STAFF SERGEANT. WAS AN AERIAL GUNNER AND OPERATED AND MAINTAINED HAND-HELD OR TURRET MOUNTED MACHINE GUNS. HE FLEW 51 MISSIONS OVER EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS AS AERIAL GUNNER ON A B-17 HEAVY BOMBER. HE FLEW AS PART OF SQUADRON B 2140TH ARMY AIR FORCE BASE UNIT IN THE FOLLOWING BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: ROME-ARNO, NORTH APENNINES, SOUTHERN FRANCE, NORTHERN FRANCE, RHINELAND AND AIR COMBAT BALKANS. HE BECAME AN AIR FORCE GUNNERY INSTRUCTOR AND CONDUCTED CLASSES OF 15 MEN IN USE AND MAINTENANCE OF GENERAL REMOTE CONTROL GUN TURRETS, COMPUTING SIGHTS AND BROWNING .50 CALIBER MACHINE GUNS. HE RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN RIBBON WITH 7 BRONZE STARS, AIR MEDAL WITH 2 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS AND THE GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.