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Fred Bernard Brink Jr. 1921 - 1944

Fred Bernard Brink Jr. of Oklahoma County, Oklahoma United States was born on May 21, 1921 in Chicago, Cook County, IL to Caroline Brink and Fred Bernhard Brink. He had a brother Joseph Brink. Fred Brink died at age 23 years old on October 26, 1944 at English Channel.

Fred Bernard Brink Jr.

Sonny

Oklahoma County, Oklahoma United States

May 21, 1921

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United States

October 26, 1944

English Channel

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Fred Bernard Brink Jr. Fred Brink (1921 - 1944)

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Fred Bernard Brink Jr.'s History: 1921 - 1944

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Introduction

Captain Brink's body was not recovered, but there are three cenotaphs/memorials listed on Find-A-Grave. 1. A stone in Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia - memorial # 49129729 2. A stone in his family's plot in Resthaven Gardens Cemetery in Oklahoma City - memorial # 119778892 3. His name is on a memorial plaque at Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial in Croton, England - memorial # 56288080
05/21

1921

Birthday

May 21, 1921

Birthdate

Chicago, Cook County, Illinois United States

Birthplace

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Ethnicity & Family History

White, Citizen
Early Life & Education

4 Years Of High School
Military Service

Military serial#: 18053563 Enlisted: December 15, 1941 in Oklahoma City Oklahoma Military branch: Air Corps Rank: Aviation Cadet, Army Of The United States - Includes The Following: Voluntary Enlistments Effective December 8, 1941 And Thereafter; One Year Enlistments Of National Guardsman Whose State Enlistment Expires While In The Federal Service; Officers Appointed In The Army Of The United States Under Army Regulations 605-10 Terms of enlistment: Enlistment For The Duration Of The War Or Other Emergency, Plus Six Months, Subject To The Discretion Of The President Or Otherwise According To Law Military serial # (officer) O-726564 Captain, U. S. Army Air Forces, 13th Photographic Squadron, 7th Reconnaissance Group. Awards: Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart
Professional Career

Cooks, Except Private Family
10/26

1944

Death

October 26, 1944

Death date

MIA on air operations, European Theatre of Operations. Plane suffered engine failure and went down over the English Channel while returning to England.

Cause of death

English Channel
Death location

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5 Memories, Stories & Photos about Fred

John Rees

7 favorites

12/18/2019

Captain Brink was a photographic reconnaissance pilot serving with the 7th PRG at RAF Mount Farm, England. At the time of his loss, he was detached to a small group of Americans attached to 192 (Bomber Support) Squadron, RAF Foulsham, Norfolk, a radio warfare organisation. On the day of his death, Brink was flying a Lockheed P38 Droopsnoot RCM aircraft serial 44-23515, accompanied by 2Lt Francis I Kunze, his Special Wireless Operator. They were engaged on a Big Ben patrol off the Dutch Coast searching for guidance signals associated with V1 ballistic missiles. No reasonable explanation for the double engine failure has so far been put forward but may have been a fuel issue. See Facebook group, 192 Squadron Research Group.

Comments

John Rees

7 favorites

12/16/2019

Caroline and Fred B Brink Jr. Gravesite

A photo of the grave of Fred Bernard Brink Jr. and his mother, Caroline Brink

Date & Place: Not specified or unknown.

Comments

Roxy Triebel

1.38k+ favorites

12/16/2019

You're welcome! Fold3 is such a great help with this sort of research. Oddly, Captain Brink's Missing Air Crew Report does not mention what type of aircraft he was flying. I get the impression that it was something small - a twin-engine two-seater of some kind with an observer in the back seat - possibly the same type of plane as in the photo. I can't see enough of the plane to identify the type though. Most of these reports will have a page listing model numbers, serial numbers, etc. for the aircraft and weapons, but there is no page like that in this report.

It's particularly sad that the engines cut out one at a time. From the radio transcripts he was clearly nursing the plane along trying to get it home, but then 2 or 3 minutes later the 2nd engine gave out and he lost altitude rapidly. From the debris recovered, it sounds like the plane broke up on impact.

All that was found were: 1 black dinghy; 1 leather flying helmet; 1 aircraft wheel; 1 fuel tank; several pieces
of radio equipment; a log book belonging to Lt. Holt (who was later discovered alive and well - he'd given the log book to 2nd Lieutenant Francis I. Kunze). I remember Lt. Kunze's name - his bio is number 151746567 on this site. I'll have to remember to go back and update his biography after work.

Comments

Daniel Pinna

9.25k+ favorites

12/15/2019

Thank you Roxy for the additional information!

Something extra sad that Fred’s plane suffered engine damage on the way home. I mean, getting through combat to end up in the sea due to engine failure :/

I see he did recon I wonder what kind of plane he flew. With his job he likely had access to cutting edge planes.

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John Rees

7 favorites

12/11/2019

Captain Fred B Brink Jr

A photo of Fred B. Brink Jr, taken 1944 at RAF Mount Farm, UK, when Captain Brink was a pilot in the 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group, USAAF.

Date & Place: 1944

Comments

Daniel Pinna

9.25k+ favorites

12/11/2019

Ah, what a great photo!! I see you put Fred's cause of death as MIA on air operations during the European Theatre of Operations. What a haunting image knowing how he would leave us. Thank you so very much for sharing John.

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John Rees

7 favorites

12/12/2019

A pleasure.

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