Camps
Held In: STALAG LUFT III; SAGAN, GERMANY & STAMMLAGER VII A;
MOOSBURG, GERMANY
How
Long Interned: 567 days
Liberated
/ repatriated:liberated
Date
Liberated: 04/29/45
Age
at Capture: 23
Medals
Received: PURPLE HEART MEDAL, AIR MEDAL, PRISONER OF WAR MEDAL
Military
Job: CO-PILOT
Company:
SECURITY STEEL, NJ FOR 15 1/2 YEARS AND UNIVERSAL NOLAN 14
YEARS
Occupation
after War: PLANT MANAGER, VP OF OPERATIONS
Bio:
Frederick J. Frey of Montgomery, Alabama, October 10th, 1943 held the
rank of 2nd Lt. and was CoPilot on a B-17 (Flying Fortress) assigned to
the 96th Bomb Group, 338th Squadron, 3rd Bomber Division, 8th Air Force.
The plane was shot down over Munster, Germany, (Frederick was age
of 23). The plane was hit by ground fire, knocking out number two
engine, and then attacked by fighters after dropping out of formation.
Lt. Frey bailed out of the burning aircraft at 23 thousand feet, and was
captured on landing. He was taken to the hospital at the fighter air
drome and treated for shock, shell fragments in the left thigh, and
facial burns. Later he was sent to the Dulag interrogation center at
Frankfurt.
Lt. Frey was then sent to Stalag Luft lll, Sagan, Germany in the forty
and eight rail cars, which took three days and two nights, packed like
sardines.
Sixteen months later on January 25th the camp was ordered out on forced
march, in one of the worst winters to hit Europe in fifty years, bound
for Stammlager VllA, Moosburg, Germany. The camp was liberated by Gen.
Pattons 3rd Army, 14th Armored Division on April 29th, 1945.
After the war Mr. Frey returned to Stevens Institute of Technology, then
went to work for Security Steel for fifteen and a half years becoming
Plant Mgr. He also held positions at Interroyal Corporation as Director
of R&D for fourteen years, and VP of Operations at Universal Nolin
for ten years. He retired from the Air Force Reserve in April 1963 as Lt.
Col.
Lt Frey received numerous medals and ribbons during his service, among
which are the Purple Heart, Air Medal, Presidential Unit citation, POW
medal, Good conduct medal, Pre-Pearl Harbor, ETO medal with bronze star,
American Defense, WWll victory medal, Reserve officers medal.
Message to Future Generations:
Mr. Frey's message to the future generations is, to always remember,
Liberty and Freedom were not given freely. They were won on the fields
of battle, and will take work and self sacrifice to maintain it.
