I have joined ancestry.com and found nearly all of 250 of my long distant cousins are in the USA. I was born in Australia. I have found out that my grandmother (deceased) gave birth to my father (deceased) and she had a relationship with a USA serviceman possibly by the name of Fredrick Drown who served in the air corps. I have asked a few of the cousins and this name served in several places overseas but the cousins on ancestry cant verify if he served in Sydney around 1939-40. My questions is can this person be traced back to Sydney by just supplying his name? Any help would be appreciated in advance thankyou Heath Gustafsson
These threads are notouriously difficult to resolve with the level of experience we have on this site, which is basically limited to genealogy web sites, so the same as most people. I would suggest that you may need as much detail as possible, looking quickly on Ancestry there are many of that name but it could be narrowed down if you knew perhaps a middle initial or name. Some general research to see if the Army Air Corps were in fact in Australia around that time, or perhaps it was the Air Force ?? - it is often better to start wide and zoom in rather than trying to find an individual straight off. CL1's suggestion is good and it may throw up someone who can start to unravel your mystery TD
A good source here for researching those US servicemen who served in the Second World War. Research A Veteran | The National WWII Museum | New Orleans
Hi, You could also do a name search for him on the National Archives Australia website as he may be logged as an “arriving” alien in their immigration or arrivals databases as US service personnel in Australia would be quite rare in 1939/40. Steve
Agree with Steve that USAAF serviceman would be exceptionally rare to be in Sydney PRIOR to America entering WW2 as they had a tiny Air Force until ramping up recruitment, mainly after Pearl Harbor. Without questioning your grandmothers behaviour, why do you feel this Frederick Drown could be your grandfather? I assume your grandmother didn't marry Frederick, so where did Mr Gustaffson enter the scene? Was this simply a bloke cashing in on an innocent girl by "bigging up" who and what he was, rather than a more mundane truth and then conveniently disappear?
Hi The only Frederick Drown in NAA is - View digital copy As he was WW1 and was killed, not him. regards Robert
Hi Heath I found these two guys on: NARA - AAD - Fielded Search - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/120735389/frederick-a-drown Nothing to suggest this Frederick Drown served in Australia, either here or on the nara aad documents above. USAAC became USAAF in the spring of 1942.
Hi mate I spoke to a cousin in the USA and he informed me his grandfather was in ww2. He is trying to find out if he was in Sydney in 39-40. My father was adopted so no history. I know all my mothers side of relatives and there isn't 1 American amongst them yet I have 250 long distant cousins alone on ancestry. There is definitely a link there just trying to narrow it down!
Wow that's info I couldn't find but his name didn't have the E and was spelt Fredrick...I apprecitate your help thankyou!
Yes I researched the air corps and they started in 42 here but speaking to the cousin on ancestry there is a genealogical connection. He did say he served in the army corps as well. Interesting
This is the gentleman I am speaking about yes. I have been talking to his grandson but he is finding it hard to obtain info too.
My father was adopted and nearly all my long distant cousins on ancestry are in the USA and there is zero history on my mothers side that has been confirmed. Just starting to look into this. It may be a case of ruling Fredrick out but im still related to his grandson.
So it was this person after all. Railroad clerk from Kansas born in in 1911. His record has Frederick with an R but that might be a mistake. I think it is usually spelled with an R NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)
Oh yes it must be. Enlisted in 1945. It cant be him then as my father was born 1940. Does eliminate him though so still helpful!