Lieut. R. L. Frakes Listed with Seven Missing in Action
Washington—Seven Iowa soldiers Thursday were reported missing in action in the American, European and Mediterranean areas:
Second Lieut. Henry C. Priester, Jr., Davenport, in the American area.
Sergeant William C. Fischer, Anamosa.
Second Lieut. Robert L. Frakes, Sioux City.
Lieut John R Martin, Osage.
Second Lieut. Marion W. Saffell, Diagonal.
Second Lieut. John Whitney, Des Moines in the European area.
Sergeant Edward S. Kopsa, Grundy Center, in the Mediterranean area.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, March 10, 1944
LIEUT. FRAKES NOW PRISONER
Mother of Sioux City Pilot Receives Word of His Capture
Reported missing in action after an aerial raid over Germany last February, Lieut. Robert L. Frakes, son of Mrs. A. E. Bergstrom, 1809 Morningside avenue, is now a prisoner of war of the German government.
Word to that effect was received by Mrs. Bergstrom from the adjutant general’s office of the War Department, which in turn had received the information through the International Red Cross. No details of his capture or his present whereabouts were given in the telegram.
Lieut. Frakes, pilot of a P-38 fighter plane, had been stationed in England for six months prior to his disappearance in February. He had been on many missions over enemy territory. Reports by other pilots in his squadron indicated there was reason to believe Lieut. Frakes was not injured on his last mission in February.
Lieut. Frakes had received the air medal for meritorious achievements in the air and had been given credit for helping destroy a German Messerschmidt III.
After 13 months’ training as a pilot, Lieut. Frakes received his commission at Williams field, Phoenix, Ariz., in May, 1943. Before he entered the armed services, he had been employed for two years by Perkins Bros. Co.
Source: The Sioux City Journal, September 1, 1944 (2 photos included)
