Issuu

Richard J. Frievalt Story, As Told To Mike Quick Richard Jule Frievalt was born March 26, 1924 in Winchester, Vilas County, Wisconsin.

Joined the U.S. Army Air Corp. in December 1942. Shipped overseas to England November 10, 1943 assigned to 8th Air Force, 92nd Bomb Group, 326th Bomb Squadron at Puddingstone Field, England day after Thanksgiving 1943. Flew my first mission on December 27th 1943 and we bombed Ludwig shaven, Germany. Really lucky, one hole in the right wing from enemy flak over the target. Flew my second mission to Bordeaux, France on December 31,1943. Supposed to be a milk run but we lost an engine half way to the target and drew fighters like honey draws flies. We finally crash landed in France and it was by far the worst New Years Eve I ever had. As a crew (ten men) we split up to try to get out of the Country. The recommended route was through the Pyrenees Mountains in Spain. Laid in the woods until dark the first night and I got started after dark, I found my first Engineer and tail gunner were hiding right close to were I was. We stuck together that night but we come up on a large town, so we split up to be less conspicuous. I ran into my tail gunner again on the third day. That's the day we got picked up by the French Underground. They stashed us in a farmhouse, with an older couple that treated us very well. It took them about a week to check us out. Then they took us to another house were we found our Ball Turret Gunner and our left waste gunner it was like a reunion. Now they take us to a meeting in a castle. There were ten of us all together, around a table drinking wine. It was decided that night, when Radio Station BBC in London said "TEN MEN DRANK WINE" that would be the signal that there would be an arms drop the next night. Now we went to what they called the Marquis where there were 30 or 40 Frenchmen, they were brave men but what impressed me the most was the strict decipline.Getting in an argument could get your head shaved. We now spent our time listening to BBC for our message and it did come and since I was the Radio Operator on our crew, I was to go along to flash the signal for the drop. The last minute they decided the language barrier was too great a risk. They left without me and ran into a German barricade, the leader walked all the way back to the Marquis with more than 20 pieces of grenade in him. We found this out because they put him in a hospital in Angolemme right under the Germans noses. They lost two men in the skirmish and their vehicle, which were the only wheels they had. One thing happened to me there before we got the message on BBC. I made Corporal in the French underground. After the ceremony I was picked up and thrown out of a second story window, down below was a group with a blanket and they snapped it just as I hit it and whenI looked down, I was higher than the window I came out of. After the fouled up arms deal we were on the run constantly. They finally dropped us three Americans off with another group. These guys were more fun but also more careless. We'd go to town carrying machine guns, drink in the taverns and never pay for a thing. The French never considered themselves as being occupied by the Germans. We were soon in trouble again and back on the run.

The last farmhouse we took over was our downfall, they turned us over to the Germans and they came in with 300 troops and 3 tanks. They weren't taking any chances. There were several killed which included Alex our Ball Turret Gunner. These were the German Elite SS Troops that took us; anybody that couldn't walk was shot in the head. I was wounded in the hand and didn't even know it until the blood was running down my neck and I wasn't about to move my hands after I seen my Tail Gunner get a riffle butt when he dropped his hands from his neck. When we got to the closest town they unloaded us at the cemetery and set up a machine gun but they finally loaded us back in the trucks and took us to a prison in Pottier France. There were many beatings and a lot of interrogating but we'd been well schooled about keeping our mouths shut. Once they get what they want its curtams. This went on from the later part of March into May. They finally shot most of us. out of 44 men there was 3 Americans and 2 Frenchmen left. The 2 Frenchmen went free and we went to the Friends Prison in Paris.

We were there until June 6,

1944. We had a cellmate who was supposed to be American, he said he was from St. Louis but Mick and I didn't trust him. He wasn't moved with us when we left on the 6th of June for Germany. We had been separated from Hugh when we were in the Friends Prison but he was back with us when they put us on the train for Germany. The 6th of June was the day of the invasion of France and I think that is why they got us out of there. We went to Frankfort, Germany and this is the first time I seen what our bombing Raids had done. The houses were like split in half, you could see all the rooms, they couldn't find an undamaged building to put us in and they finally took us to Wiesbaden, which was declared an open city that hadn't been touched. The interrogations got rougher here; this was the German Gestapo Headquarters we were at. It all ended like it had never happened. One day a high ranking Luftwaft Officer walked into the prison and claimed we were Air Force and that we were his prisoners and we became prisoners of War and was taken to a POW camp. In February 1945 we were marched from Kiefheide, Germany, which was close to the Russian front

and they were heading our way. We were marched East to a British POW Camp which was in the middle of a triangle made up of Bremnan, Hanover and Hamburg, these were 3 of our main targets so when our bombers came over we knew which one they were going to hit. The American and British lines were so close to us now we could hear the gunfire. They decided to move us again on March 26, 1945; I know the date because it was my 21st birthday. We decided we didn't want to go but when they entered the barracks with fixed bayonets I decided to go for more birthdays. Once again they marched us across Germany, East to West this time towards the Russians. When our camp leader told us we were one day’s march from the Elbe River, I decided it was time to make a decision and I took off from the march at the first rest break. It was simple; I went into the brush to take care of my morning constitutional and as quick as I was out of sight of the guard I took off up the hill through the woods. I lay there until they marched off. When I got up to look for a better hiding place until dark, I met the others from the prison camp and we decided to stick together and move only at night. The very first night we came up on a road and almost ran out in front of what must have been a German Brigade. We watched them go by heading towards the Russians. Come morning we found a place to hide out for the day and had to kick a deer out of the hollow we wanted to hide into. I heard later that killing a deer in Germany was punishable by death.

The second morning we weren't so well hidden when we woke up. We were ona hill looking down the road. There was an old guy there shooting up into the woods but he wouldn't come into the woods. That night we got started and the first thing you know someone was chasing us. I'm running last with Bud and Russ ahead of me, I knew I couldn't out run him in the shape I was in so I stopped to take my chances the other way and he did a 180 in front of me and there was an SU on his back which I recognized as a Russian prisoner. He took us back to his friends who didn't seem to be too happy to see us. They boiled some potatoes for us which disturbed us until they told us it was safe to light a fire just before dark and the first thing inthe morning. I guess those are the times when you can't see the smoke. I ate myself so miserable I was rolling on the ground but it was the first time I didn't feel hungry for a long time. We moved a few yards away from them to sleep that night and we decided to boil our own potatoes in the morning. We just had them going real good and here come the Russians, they kicked over our bucket of potatoes and they are waving their arms and yelling, that language barrier again. They finally grabbed us and got us herded up the road and lo and behold if it isn't the British 8th Armored. They had to run into a firefight with a group of SS Troopers. These Jerry Jerks are actually attacking with fixed bayonets and the English Tanks are just chewing them up. One of the Limeys told me they almost shot us coming out of the woods. They must have figured the skirmish was going to last awhile because they were digging trenches. I asked about the suicidal behavior of the SS Troopers and this is when I was told they all had SS tattooed on their arm and they had been told they would be executed and never taken prisoner. We were on the front lines for about two hours when a truck pulled up, it was American and they had been lost all night. There were prisoners from our camp in the back, but they would not let our new Russian friends get on. The rest is just a few days in Germany then a flight to England on a Gooney Bird. The first thing they did there was delouse us. ThenI received a rude awakening about the rest of the war. I came home ona hospital ship. I never saw so many bodies with no arms and no legs. I decided I had an easy war. These guys paid the price. Escaped from the Germans April 16, 1945 and was back in Military control April 19, 1945.

Richard J. Frievalt

Additional Information Below.

-FrievalisTo

Seek Word Of Missing Son

fico: France Sgt. Richard J: Frievalt, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Jules Frievalt, 401. Breitung avenue, Kingsford, has

The

told

Gen-

“The secretary of war desires me to

express

your

son,

his

deep.

regret

Set. Richard

that

J. Frievalt,

has been reported missing in action since Dec, 31 over France. If further

details or other information are received

you

will

promptly

noti-

left the

Unit-

fied.” Set.

Frievalt,

States

who

between

Nov.

16 and

22,

for overseas duty, attended the. Kingsford ‘high school. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps Nov. 24, 1942,

and

received

his

basic

training

Keesler Field, Miss. Sgt. Charles N. (Buddy) LaSalle, 21, son of Joseph LaSalle, 636 Lansing street, Kingsford, who yesterday wes re~ ported missing im action with the | Army Aix Zorces since last Dec,

19,

was

valt’s eae

a classmate

Keesler

veatVANCE

of Sgt.

Frie- |

Field.

;

Finishing his basic training, Frievalt was sent to Sioux Falls, S. D,, for training as a radio operator; then to Ephrata, Wash., for gunnery training, and:to Rapid City, S. D., for “polishing-up” training before leaving for uverseas. When. he completed his training,

he was given the choice of remain-

| | | |

said, he would see action.

“He

asked

2 « « He wanted

sent

;

overseas

to be in the thick

abroad with the American Air Force, | Mr. and Mrs. Frievalt, in addition Sgt. Frievalt, are the parents of daughter, Miss Dora Jean, and son, Jimmy, at home. Richard is

the oldest of the children,

McGee,

whose

wife

resides

of Mrs, Edna E, Halsell, Blythe: | ville;

Avis, und) Second

Lieut.

James.

A. Grumbles, regarding whom information is available. The Frievalts plan to write the next of kin of each man in the hope they may obtain more information

about

their son.

Information Gen, Dunlop, in

letter

the

' Frievalts, said no additional inform-

of it,” his mother said. Frievalt, in every letter written. his parents since he left for over | seas, expressed delight at being

_ -to a a@

serving |

39 Wilber street, Lowell, Mass; Second Lieut. Edward F. Neu, whose wife resides at 638 Sycamore street,» Sciotoville, Ohio; Flight Officer Lioyd C. Busboom, son of Mrs. Carl A. Bushoom, Pocatello, Idaho; S/Sgt. Alex J. Dominski, son of Stanley ~ Dominski, Three Lakes, Wis.; S/Sgt. Clarence J. Muntzinger, brother of Mrs. Luella Frane, 443 Pasadena Drive, Fort Wayne, Ind.; Sgt. Miland W. Bills, son of Mrs. Esther Bills, Lawrence, Mich.; Sgt. Michael | F. Cahill, Jr, son of Michael F. | Cahill, 59-19 69th Place, New York city; Sgt. Hugh L./ Halsell, Jr., son

ing in the United States for duty or an overseas assignment, where, it'

was

men

Breitung avenue, on the Flying» Fortress which has been missing since Friday, Dec, 31, over France, ‘were given the young man’s parents by. Brig. Gen. Robert H. Dunlop, acting for the Adjutant General. They were Second Lieut. Robert

received

yesterday from the Adjutant eral. It read as follows:

of nine

of Mr. and Mrs. Jules Frievalt, 401

een missing in action over France since Friday, Dec, 31, his parents

were

names

with Sgt, Richard J. Frievalt, 19, son

January 29, 1944 ———>

ation has been received by the War Department regarding the crew of the Fortress on which Frievalt served as radio operator and gunner. “If further information is received, however, it will be promptly conveyed to you. May I extend my sympathy during this period of anxjiety and hope that favorable news soon will be received concerning your son,” the general wrote. Notice that their son was missing in action was sent Jan. 13 to Mr. and Mrs. Frievalt, -who later received a V-Mail letter written by the '

young sergeant shortly after Christ-_ ‘mas, “I had a swell Christmas, considering being away from home,” he said. “I met a girl down here a _ week ago and had Christmas dinner at her home—most of these English _ people believe in keeping up with the Christmas spirit. I had a good meal, about three different kinds of meat, but no chicken—I guess they had that at camp. I had tea three times during the day. I’m doing all s righ Hat don’t we ry eee anys

A letter from Richard

Frievalt to Jacqueline Pottevin after the war.

Richard fought with her two brothers in the French Undergroung. Her brother Andre was killed when Richard was captured.

Andre Pottevin os Print the complete address In plain letters In the panel below, and your return address in the space provided ‘on the right. Use typewriter, dark Ink, or dark pencil. Faint or small writing Is not suitable for photographing.

FROM

‘

(CENSOR'S STAMP)

rrp

Me CLAD

QA rwrdar

C’atart

Soe

eres

eh Fed

uw chee

eee

se eee

Jey

Se re

epree

cgccren

ete

ees

WEL

pitied

nite

as Fate

ee.

toKe om

» Fors arte

Arend

ae Face

gris

ptrnrans

pte

2t narod

Cele

tee

ata

ees

nee Aarts Corlanin demanks

caw

dle

aes

(ie

het

Aimanes

Gaming

Leu i

HAVE

YOU FILLED IN COMPLETE ADDRESS AT TOP?

HAVE You ies

IN COMPLETE

ADDRESS AT TOP?

I SSSSOS

dts,

ee |

die null

(Sender's complete oddrass above)

Felrie

CR fvArr

tees

0.29

SEE INSTRUCTION NO. 2

SRA

. x

. SSS

SRW

Mor Aicwaan

POTTEVIN

Dear Jacqueline; I hope you don't forget and remember that I was in France in February 1944. I regret the killing of Andre. He was a smart boy. I'd like to have news of Gaston. I'll be very happy to receive a photo of you. You certainly know that what I did was not voluntary, it was because I was scared that the Germans would take me and you also. We are free now Jacqueline, we do not need to worry about the Germans. I will visit France after the war and I'm sure I'll see you and all my friends. I ask you to respond very quickly to this letter because I am here for two weeks. I will end by sending you my best regards. Richard (Excerpt from the book Bombardiers Abattus) The young André Potevin sympathizes with the American Richard Frievalt. It has even caught the attention of his parents that their might be a relationship between Richard Frievalt and his big sister Jacqueline. There is also the fact that they spent the night at the family home in Negret. Richard has a certain affection for Jacqueline. Are these young people sweethearts? An exchange of photographs was envisioned, but according to his statements, Richard has always refused to carry a photograph that could identify his French girlfriend. If he was taken by the Germans in possession of a compromising document, he feared that Jacqueline could be arrested, perhaps executed.