FREDERICK E. KROEGER:
An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society
Manuscripts Collection
OVERVIEW
| Creator: | Kroeger Frederick E., 1915-1956, creator. | |
| Title: | Frederick E. Kroeger papers. | |
| Dates: | 1942-2001 (bulk 1942-1956). | |
| Language: | Materials in English. | |
| Abstract: | Notes, diaries, and log books, a photograph album, a clippings scrapbook, a scrapbook of military documents and service-related materials, and related miscellany of a Wells, Minnesota World War II United States Navy bomber pilot who served in the Pacific Theater, and who later worked as a high school teacher. | |
| Quantity: | 0.9 cubic feet (5 folders and 5 volumes in 1 partial box and 1 oversize volume in 1 partial box). | |
| Location: | See Detailed Description for shelf locations. |
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Frederick "Fred" Everett Kroeger was born December 29, 1915 on his grandfather’s farm outside of Lamberton, Minnesota. He spent his youth in Wells, Minnesota with his parents and two siblings, twin sister Caroline and brother Vernon. After graduating from Wells Senior High School, Kroeger attended Mankato State Teachers College for one year and then transferred to River Falls Teachers College (River Falls, Wis.) on a football scholarship. There he met his future wife, Anna Mae Gilham from Wausau, Wisconsin.
Upon graduation and with war imminent, Kroeger enlisted in the United States Navy to fulfill his dream of becoming a Navy pilot. After successfully completing his pilot training, he was stationed in the Pacific where he flew off the aircraft carriers USS Langley and USS Princeton. He received many awards including the Navy Cross (April 7, 1945), the Distinguished Flying Cross (four times), the Air Medal (6 times), Navy Commendation Award to Langley, and the World War II Victory Medal.
After the war Kroeger his wife initially established residence in Two Rivers, Wisconsin but moved to Southern California in 1946. Fred took a job as a high school teacher at Birmingham High School in Burbank, California.
Kroeger was killed September 15, 1956 while flying weekend maneuvers at Los Alamitos Naval Air Station in California as a member of the United States Naval Reserve.
ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION
Availability:
The collection is open for research use.
Preferred Citation:
[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Frederick E. Kroeger Papers. Minnesota Historical Society.
See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.
Accession Information:
Accession number: 17,450
Processing Information:
Processed by David B. Peterson, April 2022.
Catalog ID number: 9989815839804294
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
| Box | |||||||||||
| 148.J.18.8F | 1 | Notes regarding diaries and log books, undated, approximately 2001. | |||||||||
| Diaries, 1942-May 1944. 3 volumes. | |||||||||||
| Log books, 1942-1952. 2 volumes. | |||||||||||
| Naval aviator certificate and flight card, 1942-1956. | |||||||||||
| The Flight Jacket yearbook, 1942. | |||||||||||
| Script from NBC program "From the Pacific June 8, 1945" interview with Lt. Frederick Kroeger, June 8, 1945. | |||||||||||
| Photograph album, 1944-1953. | |||||||||||
| Clippings scrapbook, 1943-1956. 1 volume. | |||||||||||
| Includes correspondence and clippings related to and following Commander Kroeger's death. | |||||||||||
| Box | |||||||||||
| 123.J.6.7B-1 | 2 | Scrapbook of military service-related citations, awards, and military documents, 1942-1953. 1 volume. | |||||||||
CATALOG HEADINGS
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.
- Topics:
- Bomber pilots.
- World War, 1939-1945.
- Organizations:
- Langley (Aircraft carrier)
- Princeton (Aircraft carrier)
- United States. Navy.
- United States. Navy. Torpedo Squadron, 23.
- Document Types:
- Diaries.
- Photographs.
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