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Sgt. Frederick P. Downtain
721st Squadron


Sgt. Downtain receives the Bronze Star
from Col. Kyle

"PATTY"

     Ted Downtain – Crew Chief

 

Inducted into the Army on 12 November 1942

 

Trained at Kessler Field, Mississippi; Willow Run, Michigan; Alamogordo, New Mexico, served in the Air Corps with the 15th Air Force, 450th Bomb Group, 721st Squadron. As a Crew Chief in the Eame Theater, Ted was awarded the Good Conduct Ribbon, ETO Ribbon, Ten Battle Stars, Presidential Unit Citation with Clusters and Bronze Star.

 

Discharged – 12 September 1945.

 

Ted was Crew Chief of four airplanes:

            1. "Impatient Virgin" – Lost February 1944

            2. "Impatient Virgin II" – Lost April 1944

            3. Unnamed – Lost on first mission

            4. "Patty" – named for his wife Pat

 

Patty's Record:

Four original engines went the first 40 missions before having to change the #3 engine. The next night, after her 41st mission, all three of the other engines were changed. Patty was to lead the mission the next day.

 

M/Sgt W.M. "Bill" Holman, Line Chief and M/Sgt T.A. Doriety, Asst Line Chief, advised Ted to get 3 or 4 guys to help and have her ready to fly by 0500. Those guys that helped were:

 

M/Sgt Vince Genna

M/Sgt Omi Manring

M/Sgt Charles Furgeson

T/Sgt Thomas Canop

S/Sgt Carl Barr

 

"Patty" was ready to fly on 0430 and led the mission. "Patty" made 75 missions without an early return and then on her 76th mission returned due to a faulty valve in the right main landing gear. "Patty" went on to fly 112 missions without an early return.

 

Ted was awarded the Bronze Star on 6 February 1945 by Colonel Kyle.

 

Information compiled by Doid Raab from the notes he received from Ted Downtain.



Picture courtesy of the 450th Association Archives

Link To Aircraft Picture
 




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