Frank James Uber was born at Mercer County, Pennsylvania on November 29, 1921. His Uber ancestors lived in the vicinity of Grove City, Mercer County, Pennsylvania since the time of the American Revolutionary War. His parents were John Leonard Uber (1902 – 1977) and Marion Irene (Briggs) Uber (1903 – 1983), who were born in Pennsylvania. His parents married about 1921. He had a sister, Doris Jean Uber (abt Oct 1926 – unk). In 1940 the family lived at 139 State Street, Grove City, Pennsylvania, and his father worked as an engine builder. He completed three years of college and was single, without dependents, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army at Erie, Pennsylvania on June 17, 1942. He married after enlisting. His wife, Betty J. Uber, lived with his parents in 1944.
He completed Army Air Forces pilot training and was assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Claude E. Gatlin Jr, in the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. His unit was based at Army Air Forces Station 137, near Lavenham, Suffolk, England. The Gatlin crew arrived at Station 137 on November 28, 1944, and became part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.
Lt Uber and his eight crew mates went missing in action on December 31, 1944 when their aircraft, B-17G 42-97398, went missing during a mission to Hamburg, Germany. After takeoff the aircraft was never seen in formation, and the aircraft and crew were never found. They probably went down in the North Sea.
Lt Uber and his crewmates are memorialized on the Wall of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery near Madingley, England. Lt Uber has a cenotaph at Crestview Memorial Park in Grove City, Pennsylvania, where his parents are buried.
B-17G 42-97398 crew:
• Gatlin Jr, Claude E – 2/Lt – Pilot – MIA
• Uber, Frank J – 2/Lt – Copilot – MIA
• Smathers, Harold E – F/O – Navigator – MIA
• Bybee, Melvin G – Sgt – Togglier – MIA
• King, Robert H – Sgt – Engineer – MIA
• Mitchell, Bruce R – Sgt – Radio Operator – MIA
• Wright, George T – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – MIA
• Zaiger, Roy J – Sgt – Waist Gunner – MIA
• Kane, Stephen P – Sgt – Tail Gunner – MIA
Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com