FIRST LIEUTENANT PETER ROBERT FROELICHER; U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE

DOB/DOD: September 18, 1919 (Zurich, Switzerland) – February 8, 1943; 23 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Valley Road, Wilson Point, Rowayton
ENLISTMENT: December 16, 1941 [19 days after Pearl Harbor]
SERVICE NUMBER: O-791686
UNIT: 381st Bomber Squadron, 310th Bomber Group (Medium)
STATUS: Missing In Action (MIA); at sea, non-recoverable

FAMILY: Born to Otto Robert Jules (1891-1961) and Gertrude Escher Froelicher (1895-1976), both born in Switzerland. Two sisters, Susanne M. Froelicher Holcombe (1919-2015) and Theresa “Dolly” Froelicher McKinney (1923-2008). With the exception of Theresa, all of the children were born in Switzerland. The family arrived in New York in September 1931.

DECORATIONS: He was awarded the Air Medal (twice) and the Purple Heart Medal.

CIRCUMSTANCES: B-25C #41-13084 “Dis’n Did’t” took off with a crew of 6, along with other B-25s, and they attacked a German Airdrome located at Gabes, Tunisia. Four of the B-25s, including Lt Froelicher’s, were reportedly shot down by ground anti-aircraft fire. The entire crew was lost.

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Graduated from Harvard University, Class of 1941

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Crew lost on B-25C #41-13084
Pilot, 1Lt Walter P. Crump; Dallas, TX
Co-Pilot, 1Lt Peter R. Froelicher; Norwalk, CT
Navigator Frederick C. Gollnitz; Fredonia, NY
Radio Operator, TSgt Buster A. Larck; Ward, WV
Gunner, SSgt Jack T. Massengale; Bryant, OK
Bombardier 2Lt Francis E. Wilson; Wheatland, WY

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From the Stamford Advocate March 25, 1943

Lieutenant Peter R. Froelicher, son of Mr. and Mrs. Otto Frolicher, Wilson Point, South Norwalk, who has been reported as “missing in action” in North Africa, is a member of the Wee Burn Club, Darien. He is a graduate of Middlesex Preparatory School and attended Harvard University. He enlisted in the summer of 1941 as a cadet in the U.S. Army Air Forces and was assigned to duty in December 1941. He received his training in South Carolina, was commissioned a pilot in August 1942, and went overseas the following month.

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Memorialized Tablets of the Missing, North Africa American Cemetery, 553 rue Roosevelt, Carthage 2016, Tunisia.

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