Biography of Fred Draeger
AOM1c, USS Bunker Hill, USN, WWII
Biography of Orville J. Draeger
36221319 Gunner, SSGT, 331st Squadron, 94th Bomber Group, Bury St Edmunds, UK & 482nd Bomb Group, 8th AF, USAAF, WWII
My dad, Fred Draeger, served on the USS Bunker Hill in the Pacific theater during WWII. His rank insignia shows he was an Aviation Ordnanceman First Class. From his photograph, he was awarded the American Campaign Medal, and the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with four service stars.
My uncle, Orville J. Draeger was Staff Sergeant and an aerial gunner assigned to the 331st Bomb Squadron in the 94th Bomb Group. There, he was a member of William E. Service's crew. On October 15, 1943, he transferred to the 482nd Bomb Group and flew with the crew of pilot Quincy V. Miller Jr. His mission list with the 331st is below. Per his photograph, he was awarded Aerial Gunner wings, the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with three service stars and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with one service star.
Below are several pictures of my Uncle, Orville Draeger. There is also a photo with them together. The two brothers were born and raised in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.
----- Mike Draeger
Email: draegermk AT aol.com
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Orville Draeger's mission list with 331st Sqdn
July 17, 1943
07/17/43 Assigned to the 331st Bomb Squadron.
07/28/43 WG 42-30452 QE Z Oschersleben, Germany. Abort - mechanical.
07/29/43 WG 42-30452 QE Z Warnemunde, Germany.
07/30/43 WG 42-30452 QE Z Kassel, Germany. Did not take-off.
07/30/43 WG 42-3130 QE O Kassel, Germany.
08/12/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Bonn, Germany.
08/15/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Vitry-en-Artois, France.
08/17/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Airborne spare. Regensburg, Germany.
08/24/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Beutre, France.
08/27/43 WG 42-5888 QE X Eperlecques, France.
08/31/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Brussels, Belgium. Abort - unable to catch formation.
09/03/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Airborne spare. Abort - mechanical.
09/06/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Stuttgart, Germany.
09/15/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Paris, France.
09/16/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Cognac, France.
09/26/43 WG 42-3338 QE P Betheny, France. Abort - personnel.
10/02/43 WG 42-30433 QE U Emden, Germany. Abort - mechanical. No sortie.
10/04/43 WG 42-3502 QE Q Saint-Dizier, France.
10/08/43 WG 42-3502 QE Q Bremen, Germany. Did not take-off.
10/08/43 WG 42-3537 XM B Bremen, Germany.
10/09/43 WG 42-30383 XM D2 Marienburg, Germany.
10/10/43 WG 42-30166 XM L Munster, Germany. Abort - mechanical.
10/15/43 Transferred to the 482nd Bomb Group. (w/ Quincy V. Miller Jr. Crew)
Source
American Air Museum in Britain
Photographs below
AOM1c Frank Draeger, left, and brother S/Sgt Orville Draeger.
William E. Service's crew, B17F Jimmy Boy II. Orville Draeger standing on left. George Bragdon, story above, sitting far right
Aircrew on field. Orville Draeger standing with back to camera, second from left.
Orville Draeger's patches: USAAF, Air Crew, 8th AF, Honorable Discharge (aka Ruptured Duck).
The Brothers' caps.
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