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Robert K. Fruth

Waist Gunner · 328th Squadron
HometownNapoleon, OH, OH

S/Sgt. Robert Kenneth Fruth, ASN 15329708, born 20 September 1922, was the right waist gunner aboard the aircraft on his 13th mission (8 of which were anti-submarine). He had missed the briefing on 7 January 1944 due to receiving vaccinations, and was flying as an extra gunner on an unfamiliar crew and aircraft. When the aircraft went into a spin as he attempted to bail out, he was thrown flat against the catwalk, feet caught in the plane. He managed to free himself and his parachute opened automatically, possibly ripped open by the catwalk edge, at approximately 4,000 feet. He sustained cuts on his head from being thrown against the bomb bay doors. He landed in a large tree about 40 feet high, approximately 100 yards from a farmhouse, and slid down after unsnapping his chute.

After landing and evading pursuing civilians, Fruth hid on a vine-covered brick wall surrounding a country house until dark. He initially believed he was in Holland, but after finding a road sign reading 'Route No. 7, Paris, 47 km' he turned north and walked 13 km toward Paris that first night. Over the following days he scrounged food and clothing from cellars and clotheslines, hitched a ride atop a truck through Fontainebleau Forest to Souppes, and was twice aided by French railway crossing gatemen who fed him and pointed him toward Nemours. At Nemours station, a ticket seller who spoke English provided him a coat, warned him about a pro-German agent in the next town, and arranged a supper and safe house.

Fruth was sheltered by the Paillard family in Nemours (Mr. Paillard was in the jewellery business; his wife, about 37-40, effectively ran the household), and then moved to a safe house above a butcher shop nearby. On 14 January 1944 he was transported by car through an escape network, via Souppes where he met a young Frenchman named Pierre, to a large house in Egry owned by Pierre Charie (about 28, in the wine business; his father was Mayor of Egry). There he met Lt. Berry, Lt. Rogoff, and Sgt. Paquin, with Sgt. Vines arriving on 17 January. Fruth and Vines spent three days (4-6 February) at Raymond's apartment in Puiseaux.

On 14 February 1944 the group was moved to Paris, arriving around 2330. Fruth and Vines were taken to an apartment at 2 Rue Ernest Renan, near the Eiffel Tower, belonging to Anita Le Monnier (sister of actress Meg Le Monnier) and her mother. They remained there until 12 March 1944. On Sunday night 12 March they traveled by train from Gare Montparnasse with identity papers and reserved seats, meeting Donaldson, Parker, Birdwell, and Winkelman. The group was guided to the Brittany coast, where after receiving a BBC radio signal they walked to a beach at night, waited from 2300 until approximately 0030, and were taken off by small boats to a Royal Navy gunboat. Fruth departed from Paimpol on 17 March 1944 and arrived in Dartmouth, UK the same day.

Completed Tour

Sortie Log

3 CATALOGUED SORTIES
07 JAN 1944 — 07 JAN 1944

The sorties below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.

8AF Mission
Date
Target
Aircraft
№ 178
07 JAN 1944
Ludwigshafen
On 7 January 1944, the aircraft was on a mission to Ludwigshafen. The crew flew through thick clouds from Paris onward. Just before reaching the target area, a JU 188 made a pass at the formation and the waist gunner fired a burst at it. Flak was fairly heavy. The aircraft was hit by flak before dropping its bombs, with holes observed in the right wing and damage to the cowling of No. 4 engine (oil smoke pouring from a holed oil line). The crew bombed the target with the formation and started back. No. 2 engine then began to fail and was feathered, causing the aircraft to lose altitude and speed. After 20 more minutes on three engines they fell behind their group, and attempted to join another B-17 formation but could not maintain speed. No. 4 engine also failed. With No. 3 supercharger also out, the aircraft was reduced to two engines and descended to 8,000 feet. Coming out of the clouds, the crew observed the Fontainebleau Forest below. They threw out all available equipment but could not regain altitude. Flak began bursting to the right of the plane, and the interphone went out. A fragment of flak went through the fuselage behind the waist windows, after which the radio operator ordered the crew to bail out at approximately 1420. The aircraft went into a spin to the left as the last crew members were jumping. The bail-out occurred at approximately 4,000 feet altitude, approximately 47 km south of Paris near St. Sauveur, southwest of Melun.
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№ 178
07 JAN 1944
Ludwigshafen
B-24 serial number 42-7519, nicknamed "519-D," was assigned to the 328th Bomb Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. On 7 January 1944, the aircraft departed AAF 104 on a combat mission to Ludwigshafen, Germany. During the mission, the aircraft was attacked by enemy fighters. No. 3 engine caught fire, Nos. 2 and 4 were feathered, and No. 1 went out of control. Co-pilot 2nd Lt. Edward C. Miller reported bailing out at approximately 13,000 feet, at around 1330 hours, between Paris and Melun (near St. Assisse). A cipher message received after the loss stated that an aircraft of the 93rd Bombardment Group, 328th Bombardment Squadron had landed in Switzerland. The intelligence officer's eyewitness report notes this was likely 42-7519, though confirmation was pending at the time of the report. Seven parachutes were counted by French helpers on the ground. Hearsay information from French sources indicated that crew members Stearns, Varbese, and Wahrheit were believed killed, while Carnahan and Long were captured. Miller also reported hearing that ground troops had fired on some men after bailout.
42-7519
№ 178
07 JAN 1944
Ludwigshafen
Aircraft departed Hardwick at approximately 0700 on 7 January 1944 to bomb Ludwigshafen. The crew flew in thick clouds from Paris onward. The aircraft was struck by flak before bombs were dropped, sustaining damage to the right wing and the cowling of engine No. 4. The formation bombed the target despite the damage. After leaving the target, engine No. 2 began to fail and was feathered. The aircraft lost altitude and speed, dropped behind the formation, and could not keep up with a second group of B-17s. Engine No. 4 then also failed. At 8,000 feet, a flak fragment penetrated the fuselage behind the waist windows and the crew was ordered to bail out. The aircraft went into a spin as the last crew members bailed out at approximately 4,000 feet. The aircraft came down approximately 47 km south of Paris near Fontainebleau Forest.
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