World War II Honoree

Fredric Gans Altman

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Helena, Arkansas

Honored By

Brigitte Friedmann Altman

Relationship

Wife

HE PROUDLY VOLUNTEERED FOR SERVICE AND RECEIVED HIS BOMBARDIER WINGS IN 1942. HE SERVED OVERSEAS IN ENGLAND WITH THE 340TH SQUADRON OF THE 97TH BOMBER GROUP. HE FLEW 50 MISSIONS PLAYING A KEY ROLE IN THE AIR WAR OVER FRANCE, GERMANY, NORTH AFRICA AND SICILY. HE WAS AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS FOR HIS COURAGE AND SKILL AS LEAD BOMBARDIER IN A LARGE FORMATION OF B-17'S. HIS PLANE WAS SERIOUSLY DAMAGED BY BOTH FLAK AND FIGHTERS AND WITH SEVERAL CREW MEMBERS WOUNDED, HE SHIFTED FROM ONE GUN TO THE OTHER AS HE ALTERNATELY REPULSED ATTACKS FROM THREE DIRECTIONS AS THE ENEMY TRIED TO DOWN THE LEAD SHIP. AMONG HIS WAR RIBBONS AND DECORATIONS ARE THE AIR MEDAL WITH NINE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, AMERICAN THEATER RIBBON, EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS RIBBON AND THE AMERICAN DEFENSE RIBBON.