T/Sgt Ficken
was stationed with the 303rd Bomb Group, flying
out of Molesworth. He was assigned to this Group
on October 23, 1944.
He was a
toggelier on Lt.
Raymond A. Boulter's crew. This was probably his
second operational tour. It is not known at this
time when or with what unit T/Sgt Ficken flew
his first tour.
T/Sgt Lewis
Ficken (kneeling, second from left) with his
crew. It is not know which crew this is or if
this is the crew that he was shot down with on
November 10. Lt Raymond A. Boulter is identified
standing left. Rest of crew unknown. (picture courtesy of Mrs. Becky Sutusky)
On November 6
they flew their first mission to Bottrop,
Germany, in a well known 303rd BG B17 called
THUNDERBIRD. 3 Days later, on November 9, 1944,
the target was Metz, France. The crew flew their
final mission the next day, on
November 10. The target was Cologne, Germany. The B17,
nicknamed MARIE, was hit twice by Flak over the
target area, lost some parts and was seen to go
in a rather steep, but controlled dive.
The plane
crashed near the city of Cologne. Except for
T/Sgt Ficken and the pilot, Lt. Boulter, the
crew survived to become prisoners of war.
Lt. Boulter's crew
in front of THUNDERBIRD, in which the
crew flew their first mission to Bottrop. Crew
(not in order): 1Lt Raymond A. Boulter (P)(KIA)(front,
far right), 2Lt Arthur F. Perry
(CP)(POW), 2Lt James M. Craven (N)(POW),
T/Sgt Lewis P. Ficken (Tog)(KIA),
T/Sgt Glen R. Wyly (E)(POW), T/Sgt Harold
P. McKelvey (R)(POW), T/Sgt Carl E.
Fryhoyer (BTG)(POW), S/Sgt Joseph J.
Sanzone (WG)(POW), S/Sgt Stanley Finch
(TG)(POW) (Picture courtesy of www.303rdbga.com)
Besides the
Purple Heart (posthumously awarded) he was also
awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and
an Air Medal with three oak clusters. The DFC he
got for 'Heroism or extraordinary achievement
while participating in aerial flight or upon
recommendation and approval for those displaying
great courage, skill and devotion to duty on
specific or series of combat missions.'
The Air medal
with three oaks leave clusters are an indication
he flew 25 missions, the number required to
finish an operational tour.
T/Sgt Ficken
is buried at Margraten American Military
Cemetery, Plot J Row 7 Grave 4
