Fabian, Stephen Ralph

Individual Personnel Data
Name Fabian, Stephen Ralph   ‡
⇗
Rank Second Lieutenant
Serial Number O-736496   ‡
Unit Assignments Assigned to the 544th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), per Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, Special Orders #32 dated 1 February 1943, effective 1 February 1943.
Duty Co-pilot
MOS1091 - Pilot, B-17
Last Duty Date 25 June 1943
Results Prisoner Of War
POW Camp: Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11)
Additional Information
  • Date of Birth: 2 April 1919
Related Documents Missing Air Crew Report # 16349⇓ (1.083 MB)
Photo Album:Crew Photo Album⇗
Crew Composition When Assigned to the 384th BG
Original 384th Combat Crew
CREWMEMBER POSITION RESULTS
2nd Lt. Halseth, Edwin Scofield⇗PilotPOW
2nd Lt. Fabian, Stephen RalphCo-pilotPOW
2nd Lt. McGeehan, William F⇗NavigatorPOW
2nd Lt. Deignan, Charles Joseph⇗BombardierPOW
S/SGT. Kay, David Eli⇗Radio Operator / GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Burnes, Robert Oliver⇗Engineer / Top Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Delmonte, Frank L⇗Ball Turret GunnerPOW
SGT. Bagdis, John Stanley⇗Tail GunnerPOW
S/SGT. Pollard, Walter Maxwell⇗Flexible GunnerPOW
SGT. Forster, August Richard⇗Flexible GunnerTR

Crew History

The Halseth Crew joined the 544th BS at Wendover on 1 February 1943. Identified as "Crew #1" on the assignment order, they became the first "Crew #42" in the squadron.

Before moving to England, Forster was replaced by S/Sgt Donald A Rutan. Co-pilot Fabian was shot down while flying with the John R Way crew on his first mission - he had been bumped from the Halseth Crew because the Squadron CO, Maj Nuttall, had chosen to fly with Halseth (who aborted because they lost the formation in weather). The remaining crew members were lost on 25 July 1943. All members of this crew became POWs, except for Forster, whose disposition is not known.
Missions, Aircraft, Crews
This individual was credited with 1 Combat Mission.
Number Date Target Position Aircraft Mission/Sortie Information
2⇗ 25 June 1943 Target: Industrial Area & Submarine Pens
Type: Military
Location: Hamburg, Germany 		Co-pilot 42‑30049⇗ Combat Mission Credit
Failed To Return
After making two unsuccessful runs on the primary target, the crew headed for Emden as a likely target for their bomb load. The flak guns found them, inflicting serious damage and injuries - then they ran into fighters. A furious running battle ensued, with some crew members bailing out, and finally the aircraft exploded. The main part of the wreckage came down in the Dollard (Dutch: Dollart), an embayment of the Ems River on the border between Germany and the Netherlands. MACR 16349
Sortie Report⇗

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