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Roman John Freise

Corporal Roman J. Freise was a Marine aviator and mechanic with VMJ-253.
He was killed in a non-combat crash near Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 13 November 1942.

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Branch

Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 366248

Created by potrace 1.16, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2019

Current Status

Remains Not Recovered

Pursuit Category

The DPAA has not publicized this information.

Capsule History

Pre-War Life

Birth

September 10, 1918
at Union, MO

Parents

Frank Xavier Freise
Sophia Agnes (Busch) Freise

Education

High school graduate
details unknown

Occupation & Employer

Shoemaker
Bourbeuse Shoe Company

Service Life

Entered Service

February 24, 1942
at Union, MO

Home Of Record

419 Main Street
Union, MO

Next Of Kin

Father, Mr. Frank X. Freise

Military Specialty

Aviation Mechanic

Primary Unit

VMJ-253

Campaigns Served

Solomon Islands / Guadalcanal

Individual Decorations

Purple Heart

Additional Service Details

Loss And Burial

Circumstances Of Loss

Corporal Roman Freise was a mechanic assigned to VMJ-253, a Marine transport squadron operating in the Solomon Islands. His squadron made frequent flights between Espiritu Santo and Guadalcanal, delivering much-needed supplies and evacuating wounded men. By mid-November 1942, VMJ-253 had transported more than a thousand patients from the battlefield to rear-area hospitals. Freise was personally commended for his “zeal, exceptional courage, and devotion to duty” on seven trips between September and November, 1942.

On 13 November 1942, Freise was assigned as flight mechanic for 2Lt. Joseph N. Abel on a routine cargo flight to Henderson Field. Weather conditions deteriorated as they approached Guadalcanal; by 1815 hours, a “blinding rain” was lashing the airfield. The plane (R4D-1 #4696) made a vain attempt to land, then opened the throttle to come around for another pass.

As the big plane crossed over the coastline, it was seen to bank sharply – just before a downdraft flipped it completely upside down. The crew had no chance to recover or bail out, and the plane exploded when it hit the water. Due to the weather – and a crash site  “adjacent to enemy territory” – no rescue efforts could be made.

Burial Information or Disposition

The entire crew was posted as missing in action on 13 November, and declared dead as of 11 December 1943.

No remains were recovered from the crash, although other pilots noticed “on a clear day the wrecked plane can be seen on the bottom of the bay, the water at that point being a depth of 40 feet or less.”

Next Of Kin Address

Address of father, Mr. Frank X. Freise.

Location Of Loss

Approximate area of the crash site off Guadalcanal’s northern coast.

Related Profiles

Lost in crash of R4D-1 4696
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