If you knew or served with this Sailor and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Huntingdon
Last Address Operation HIGHJUMP His body was not recovered but left at the crash site.
Date of Passing Dec 30, 1946
Location of Interment Buried at Sea, Antarctic Ocean
AMM1 Frederick Warren WILLIAMS
(PBM-5) George 1/Operation Highjump
Buried at the Bottom of the World
On December 30, 1946, a Martin Mariner PBM "flying boat" (GEORGE 1) with a crew of nine rose from the Antarctic sea on an exploratory flight to the Antarctic continent in the vicinity of Ellsworth Land. As a participant in the Antarctic Developments Project 1946-47, code-named OPERATION HIGHJUMP, they were part of a three-pronged attack to photograph and map the Antarctic coastline and certain inland areas. As they lifted from the water at 2:44 a.m., the USS PINE ISLAND, to which they were attached, slowly disappeared behind them as they flew due south on their mission. Approximately four hours later, the Ice would claim it's first American lives. Six men would live to return from that flight. AMM1 Williams was killed in the line of duty. His body was not recovered but left with the other two bodies at the crash site.
PBM-5 (George I) Crash:
Ensign Maxwell A. Lopez, USN, USS Pine Island 30 Dec 1946
ARM1 Wendell K. Henderson, USS Pine Island 30 Dec 1946
AMM1 Frederick W. Williams, USS Pine Island 30 Dec 1946
The Commanding Officer of USS Pine Island was aboard and survived the crash. The other survivors were medevac'd home but the CO had to stay and finish the operation. Frederick died two hours after the crash.
Henderson and Williams were posthumously awarded the rank of Chief Petty Officer.
Other Comments:
An Adventuresome Young Man Joins the US NAVY...
Frederick Warren Williams was born on December 19th, 1920 in Huntingdon, Tennessee. The proud parents were Mr. and Mrs. James Williams. He had one brother and two sisters.
Fred attended Clarksburg High School, near Huntingdon. Known as a fearsome and adventurous young man, Fred was 20 years old when he entered the US Navy in 1940. During WWII he fought many fierce battles in the Pacific theatre and was seriously wounded in the battle of the Marshall Islands. Fred would complete six years of service with the navy and in July, 1946, he re-enlisted for another two years. While home that July on a 75-day furlough, Fred shared his enthusiasm over the prospects of being on the Byrd Expedition.
1940-1940, HQ, RTC Great Lakes, IL (Company Commander/Staff)