About Capt Ochoa
Frederico "Fred" Carlos Ochoa was the third born of eight sons of Louis and Rafaela Ochoa of Laredo, Texas. All eight sons served in the U.S. Military (3 Army, 2 Marines, 2 Navy, 1 Air Force), the oldest six serving at the same time during WWII. At 6’4” tall, Fred was among the tallest fighter pilots, and the tallest in his family.
​
The Luis Ochoa Family
Luis Felipe Ochoa (1889-1943)
Rafaela Prieto (1891-1967)
Luis Felipe "Luis" (1915-1964)
Alberto Ricardo "Albert"(1917-1998)
Federico Carlos "Fred" (1918-1945)
Eduardo "Ed" (1920-2008)
Pedro Pablo "Peter" (1923-2001)
Rodolfo Florencio "Rod" (1926-1995)
Arturo Ernesto "Art" (1928-2006)
Ricardo "Richard" F. (1931-living)
​
Education and Career
Son, Brother, Marine, Friend
Son
Federico Carlos Ochoa, his birth name
Fred Charles Ochoa, his military name
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
source: Ochoa photo album
Martin High School
Brother
The tallest in his family, he earned the name "Hungry" for his voracious appetite.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
source: Ochoa photo album
Marine
Fred and five of his brothers, served in WWII at the same time. Here he is with Luis and Albert.
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
​
source: Ochoa photo album
Friend
Excerpt from an interview with Senator John Glenn recalling Capt. Fred Ochoa and the night of the crash.
​
"But that was one incident I remember very vividly there, because he was a good friend and we had just flown together for the last year before that in the Marshalls.
He was a good pilot."
​
In the full interview, the Ochoa family learned Fred was also known as "Bubba"
Full interview:
​
Group photograph of VMO-155 taken while the squadron was based on Midway Island in June, 1944. John Glenn is seated in the front row, third from the left.
​
Photo courtesy of Ohio Congressional Archives
Ohio State University Libraries
The family believes Fred is pictured standing in the back row, fourth from the left.
​
North Texas State College
Military
Seated: "Peter, Papa, Mama, Rod"
Standing: "Art, Ed, Luis, Albert, Fred, Richard"
