Frederick Byrd Ostler was born on January 20, 1924, in Lovell, Wyoming. He was the son of Willard Howarth Ostler and Ethel Marguerite Byrd Ostler.

He resided in Bannock County, Idaho, prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 2, 1943, in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being Single, without dependents.

Frederick served in the 850th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot on the B-17G #43-38009 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 13, 1944, in the crash of his plane in Germany.

B-17G #43-38009 took off, with a crew of 9, from Eye, England, on a bombing mission over Ludwigshafen, Germany. Near the target, they were hit by anti-aircraft fire, which blew their left-wing off and crashed near the target.

2Lt Ostler is now buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, Saint-Avold, France.

Airmen who perished on B-17G #43-38009:
Crixell, Teofilo, III ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, TX
De Santis, Jenner J. ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, NJ
Garry, Donald R. ~ Sgt, Waist Gunner, MI
Godfrey, John E. ~ Sgt, Engineer, WA
Jensen, Oscar ~ Sgt, Tail Gunner, MN
Ostler, Frederick B. ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, ID
Rooney, Lawrence J. ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, ME

Airmen who survived the crash:
Davis, Albert ~ 1st Lt, Pilot
Wessel, Richard F. H. ~ 2nd Lt, Bombardier, POW

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov