Francis served as a First Lieutenant & Bombardier on B-24M "Betty Lou" (#44-50695), 713th Bomber Squadron, 448th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Kings County, New York prior to the war.
Born in Brooklyn, he entered the service in 1942 serving in the ROTC. He then served 14 months in the 8th Armored Division, before transferring to the Air Corps. He completed 25 missions over German held territory and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Bronze Star Medal.
Francis died in the "Line Of Duty" when his B-24M crashed, for an unknown reason, at Goodman's Cairn near Pildinny, Scotland during the war.
This B-24 had left it's base at Seething in Norfolk, England and was preparing for a flight back to the United States via Prestwick on the Ayrshire coast when the crash occurred.
Service # O-505968
( Bio by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett & ShaneO )
( Place of burial found & recorded by ShaneO )
~
Crew members who perished on B-24M (#44-50695):
Blank, James G ~ Capt, Pilot, Pennsylvania
Harriman, William T ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Minnesota
Huber, John K ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, Ohio
Kanarak, Morris L ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, Pennsylvania
King, Christopher C ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, New York
Menrad, Louis F ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Illinois
Merrow, Derward E ~ Sgt, Engineer, Maine
Pargh, Bernard F ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, Tennessee
Pollio, Francis X ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, New York
Wildman, John A ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Ohio
Passengers who perished on B-24M (#44-50695):
Arrons, Sydney ~ S/Sgt, Massachusetts
Earnhart, Harold L ~ Capt, Arkansas
Fortin, Edmond C Corp, Massachusetts
Gafney, George T, Jr ~ Pfc, Missouri
Good, Allan D ~ S/Sgt, Pennsylvania
Lindsey, Aubrey W ~ Sgt, Arkansas
Thompson, Heber H ~ Lt. Col, Pennsylvania
( Crew Links by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett )
He resided in Kings County, New York prior to the war.
Born in Brooklyn, he entered the service in 1942 serving in the ROTC. He then served 14 months in the 8th Armored Division, before transferring to the Air Corps. He completed 25 missions over German held territory and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Bronze Star Medal.
Francis died in the "Line Of Duty" when his B-24M crashed, for an unknown reason, at Goodman's Cairn near Pildinny, Scotland during the war.
This B-24 had left it's base at Seething in Norfolk, England and was preparing for a flight back to the United States via Prestwick on the Ayrshire coast when the crash occurred.
Service # O-505968
( Bio by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett & ShaneO )
( Place of burial found & recorded by ShaneO )
~
Crew members who perished on B-24M (#44-50695):
Blank, James G ~ Capt, Pilot, Pennsylvania
Harriman, William T ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Minnesota
Huber, John K ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, Ohio
Kanarak, Morris L ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, Pennsylvania
King, Christopher C ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, New York
Menrad, Louis F ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Illinois
Merrow, Derward E ~ Sgt, Engineer, Maine
Pargh, Bernard F ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, Tennessee
Pollio, Francis X ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, New York
Wildman, John A ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Ohio
Passengers who perished on B-24M (#44-50695):
Arrons, Sydney ~ S/Sgt, Massachusetts
Earnhart, Harold L ~ Capt, Arkansas
Fortin, Edmond C Corp, Massachusetts
Gafney, George T, Jr ~ Pfc, Missouri
Good, Allan D ~ S/Sgt, Pennsylvania
Lindsey, Aubrey W ~ Sgt, Arkansas
Thompson, Heber H ~ Lt. Col, Pennsylvania
( Crew Links by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett )
Francis served as a First Lieutenant & Bombardier on B-24M "Betty Lou" (#44-50695), 713th Bomber Squadron, 448th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Kings County, New York prior to the war.
Born in Brooklyn, he entered the service in 1942 serving in the ROTC. He then served 14 months in the 8th Armored Division, before transferring to the Air Corps. He completed 25 missions over German held territory and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Bronze Star Medal.
Francis died in the "Line Of Duty" when his B-24M crashed, for an unknown reason, at Goodman's Cairn near Pildinny, Scotland during the war.
This B-24 had left it's base at Seething in Norfolk, England and was preparing for a flight back to the United States via Prestwick on the Ayrshire coast when the crash occurred.
Service # O-505968
( Bio by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett & ShaneO )
( Place of burial found & recorded by ShaneO )
~
Crew members who perished on B-24M (#44-50695):
Blank, James G ~ Capt, Pilot, Pennsylvania
Harriman, William T ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Minnesota
Huber, John K ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, Ohio
Kanarak, Morris L ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, Pennsylvania
King, Christopher C ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, New York
Menrad, Louis F ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Illinois
Merrow, Derward E ~ Sgt, Engineer, Maine
Pargh, Bernard F ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, Tennessee
Pollio, Francis X ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, New York
Wildman, John A ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Ohio
Passengers who perished on B-24M (#44-50695):
Arrons, Sydney ~ S/Sgt, Massachusetts
Earnhart, Harold L ~ Capt, Arkansas
Fortin, Edmond C Corp, Massachusetts
Gafney, George T, Jr ~ Pfc, Missouri
Good, Allan D ~ S/Sgt, Pennsylvania
Lindsey, Aubrey W ~ Sgt, Arkansas
Thompson, Heber H ~ Lt. Col, Pennsylvania
( Crew Links by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett )
He resided in Kings County, New York prior to the war.
Born in Brooklyn, he entered the service in 1942 serving in the ROTC. He then served 14 months in the 8th Armored Division, before transferring to the Air Corps. He completed 25 missions over German held territory and earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal and Bronze Star Medal.
Francis died in the "Line Of Duty" when his B-24M crashed, for an unknown reason, at Goodman's Cairn near Pildinny, Scotland during the war.
This B-24 had left it's base at Seething in Norfolk, England and was preparing for a flight back to the United States via Prestwick on the Ayrshire coast when the crash occurred.
Service # O-505968
( Bio by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett & ShaneO )
( Place of burial found & recorded by ShaneO )
~
Crew members who perished on B-24M (#44-50695):
Blank, James G ~ Capt, Pilot, Pennsylvania
Harriman, William T ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Minnesota
Huber, John K ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, Ohio
Kanarak, Morris L ~ T/Sgt, Radio Operator, Pennsylvania
King, Christopher C ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, New York
Menrad, Louis F ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Illinois
Merrow, Derward E ~ Sgt, Engineer, Maine
Pargh, Bernard F ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, Tennessee
Pollio, Francis X ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, New York
Wildman, John A ~ S/Sgt, Gunner, Ohio
Passengers who perished on B-24M (#44-50695):
Arrons, Sydney ~ S/Sgt, Massachusetts
Earnhart, Harold L ~ Capt, Arkansas
Fortin, Edmond C Corp, Massachusetts
Gafney, George T, Jr ~ Pfc, Missouri
Good, Allan D ~ S/Sgt, Pennsylvania
Lindsey, Aubrey W ~ Sgt, Arkansas
Thompson, Heber H ~ Lt. Col, Pennsylvania
( Crew Links by: Russell S. "Russ" Pickett )
Inscription
1LT, 713 AAF BOMB SQ WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Death date is interment date.
Family Members
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