Lee E. Friedman
Corporal, U.S. Army Air Forces

In February 1945, Corporal Lee E. Friedman was serving as a waist gunner with the 759th Bomb Squadron, 459th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 304th Bombardment Wing, 15th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces, based at Giulia Airfield, Italy. The 459th Bombardment Group flew B-24 Liberator bombers on missions in Italy, France, the Balkans, Austria and Germany.

On 28 February 1945, CPL Friedman was the waist gunner and also a camera man (for this mission) of B-24J Liberator bomber Serial Number 44-48789 named ‘Edith’ that was on a mission to bomb a target in Italy; the Isarco Flash Alze RR/B. [Missing Air Crew Record (MACR) 12751.] The aircraft had a crew of 10.

MACR 12751 reports that the aircraft was last sighted at about 1142 hours by 1LT John G. Benjamin and SSGT Jules A. Pase. Although MACR 12751 does not state any specifics, details of the events were provided in a sworn statement by Edith’s navigator, 2LT Robert A. Johnson, in Los Angeles County, California on 3 October 1945. His statement is an attachment to MACR 12751. In part, the statement reads as follows:

”On 28 February 1945 I embarked on a regularly assigned bombardment mission over enemy territory. CPL Lee E. Freedman was acting as camera man on this mission and was located in the waist position of the plane. While over enemy-held territory we received two almost direct 88mm anti-aircraft hits in the waist position of the plane and one direct hit in the flight deck of the plane. After the aforesaid hits the plane blew up almost immediately, went into a spin, and very shortly thereafter, blew up. I was, fortunately, blown free by the concussion of the explosion at approximately 14 thousand feet. On the way down I saw one other chute in the air besides my own which was that of the pilot, 1LT Claude M. Schonberger, which was the only other chute I saw open. However, Lieutenant Schonberger informed me that he saw one more chute in the air besides mine. I saw the bombardier, 2LT Gene R. Guth bail out, however, I never saw any more of him after he bailed out.” [The plane was shot down over Bulzano, Italy.]

Only two members of the crew survived the mid-air aircraft explosion and subsequent crash: The pilot, 1LT Claude M. Schonberger and the navigator, 2LT Robert A. Johnson. They were captured by the Germans and spent the remainder of the war as POWs (Prisoners of War). The other eight men were Killed in Action.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Purple Heart
Air Medal
Army Good Conduct Medal American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Forces Aerial Gunner Badge

Burial

Corporal Lee E. Friedman is buried at the Florence American Cemetery and Memorial in Florence, Provincia di Firenze, Toscana, Italy in Plot F, Row 9, Grave 4.

B-24J Liberator bomber Serial Number 44-48789 named Edith had the following crew members on 28 February 1945.

● Pilot: 1LT Claude M. Schonberger [Honoree Record ID 308850] POW - RTD
● Co-Pilot: 2LT Glenn G. Sundeen [Honoree Record ID 308851] KIA
● Navigator: 2LT Robert A. Johnson [Honoree Record ID 308852] POW - RTD
● Bombardier: 2LT Gene R. Guth [Honoree Record ID 308853] KIA
● Engineer: SGT John F. Barnousky, Jr. [Honoree Record ID 73329] KIA
● Radio Operator: SSGT Glenn Pollard [Honoree Record ID 308854] KIA
● Nose Turret Gunner: SSGT William J. Marshall [Honoree Record ID 308855] KIA
● Waist Gunner: CPL Lee E. Friedman [Honoree Record ID 74735] KIA
● Ball Turret Gunner: SSGT John N. Belt, Jr. [Honoree Record ID 308856] KIA
● Tail Turret Gunner: SSGT William J. Burnette [Honoree Record ID 308857] KIA

[The information in this biography was derived primarily from various sections of the 459th Bombardment Group website at http://www.459bg.org/ and permission was granted for its use.]