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.
Branch
Marine Corps Reserve
Service Number 366248
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.
