Eichle, Frederick R., St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate.
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From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews
With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical
Association, 1995.  Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and
reprinted with permission.

     Frederick R. Eichle was one of two graduated from Montpelier

High School in 1937 (Wilson Davis was the other graduate).  For 

the next three years he worked at whatever jobs were available

in Montpelier, then enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force on Dec-

ember 17, 1940.  He was assigned to the 43rd Bomb Squadron at

McDill Air Force Base, Tampa, Florida.  From McDill, he was sent

to Air Craft Armament School at Lowery Air Force Base, Denver,

Colorado.  Frederick taught basic fundamentals of the .50 caliber

machine gun and its use to prospective aerial gunners.  Next he

was moved to Boise, Idaho for further training and expanding.

     In July, 1942, Frederick left Fort Dix, New Jersey for over-

seas duty, along with a group of Air Force Specialists.  Their

destination was England where they formed headquarters for the

First Air Division of the Eight Air Force.  Frederick reminisc-

ed that this was one of the greatest assemblies of men and planes

known to man at that time.  Frederick served as Aircraft Arma-

ment Inspector for the First Air Division and was responsible

for salvaging much-needed armament equipment from shot-up B-17

Bombers that managed to return to England, but crashed before

reaching their home base.  Frederick recalls the dark days when

as many as 468 B-17 Bombers were shot down in one day on bombing

missions over Germany.  He endured the blitz along with the

natives of England.  Battles and Campaigns he received credit

for: Air Offensive, Europe and Normandy and reached the rank of

M/Sgt.

     In September, 1944, Frederick returned to the United States

after spending 26 months in England.  He returned to Denver

where he attended Aircraft Armament School, learning the B-29

heavy bomber.  He was a 960 Remote Control Power Turret Mechanic.

     On September 12, 1945, Frederick was honorably discharged

and returned to Montpelier.  He married Miss Alma Dykes on Octo-

ber 26, 1946.

     Civilian life did not wear well with Frederick so he re-

enlisted on November 14, 1946, with the rank of Staff Sgt., and

was assigned to Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth, Texas.  He

fully intended to make a career of the military, but this was

not to be.  Because of the serious illness of his wife, he

decided to leave the military to be nearer his family.  He was

separated from the Air Force on February 20, 1948 with the rank

of Staff Sgt.

     Returning to his native St. Helena Parish, Frederick tried

his hand at various things and spent many years until their

retirement meking the "best hamburger in Amite."

     Both retired, Frederick and Alma live next door to Alma's

mother.  Frederick gardens and shares vegetables with neighbors.

Both "count the days" between visits of their daughter, son-in-

law and two grandchildren who live in Texas.

As told to Inez Tate, January, 1992.  Since this date, Frederick R.
Eichle has passed away.

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