Frank died in Metz, France, serving his country in World War II. He is the son of Joseph Michela & brother to Al.(Dickinson County, Michigan Department of Veterans Affairs.)
LIEUT. MICHELA DIED IN ACTION OVER FRANCE
2nd Lieut. Frank Michela, 28, son of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Michels, 634 Huron Street, Ironwood, Gogebic, Michigan, who was reported missing in action over France on Aug. 11, 1944, was killed in action on
that date. The Michelas were former residents here. 2nd Lieut. Michela was a pilot of a Mustang P-51 fighter plane when he was killed 15 miles southwest of Metz.
Michela was born in Iron Mountain & graduated from here in 1933. He was president of the student
body & active in dramatics & other extra curricular activities including the Little Theater Guild.
He accompanied his family when they moved to Ironwood in 1934 & went to work as a bookkeeper
for the Morgan umber Co. He entered the United States Army in the fall of 1941 & held the rank of
TSgt at Keesler Field, Mississippi, where he soon developed an interest in aviation.
He was transferred to the Army Air Corps & at his request, in March 1943, was sent fr pre-flight training.
He received his commission & wings Jan. 7, 1944 at Craig Field.
Six months later, on July 7, 1944, Lieut. Michela was sent overseas & a month later engaged in battle
from which he failed to return.
It has since been learned that he died on the day he was reported missing in action.
2nd Lieut. Frank Michela leaves his parents, 2 brothers: Albert & Domenic; 4 sisters: Inez, a Navy nurse; Joan, a cadet nurse; Cynthia & Elizabeth; uncles Domenic & Frank Michela; Gust, James & John Giachino & an aunt, Mrs. Ralph Bruno. (May 9, 1945, Daily News, Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan.)
1st Lt Frank Michela was shot down at 03 half past PM in 1944 August the 11th by the German Flak
at SURIAUVILLE in the Vosges Mountains in the east of France, at 3 kms South-east of Contrexeville.
He crashed in the forest called: "Bois des Noves".
His last mission (codifided: RAMROD) was escorting Bombers aircrafts over Sarrbrücken (Germany).
He had taken off from air base 122 Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire, UK and flighted in formation
called "Bentley Red 2".
He was buried first in this little village and there are two memorials there for his memory.
A person who had seen his aircraft crash, M. Julien THIEROT, was 21 in 1944. He tells me that German's troup with motor-bicycles armed with machine guns arrived very fast on the crash site. But there are French people who can take the papers of this pilot before Germans arrived. After, his body was transported into the school house, where the ladies of the village proceeded to his mortuary washed. (submitted by FROMMER Jean-Loup.)
1920
1930
United States Census, 1940Frank J Michilla
Sex Male
Age
23 years
Event Date 1940
Event Place
Ironwood Township, Gogebic, Michigan, United States
Event Place Ironwood City, Ironwood City, Ironwood, Ironwood, 27-16, Gogebic, Michigan, United States
Event Type Census
Residence Date 1935
Residence Place Same Place
Birth Date 1917
Birthplace Michigan
Marital Status Single
Race White
Ethnicity American
Relationship to Head of Household SON
Enumeration District Number 27-16 Ironwood City bounded by (N) Chicago & North Western Railway; (E) Lake, McLeod Av, Mill; (S) Pine; (W) Balsam, Vaughn, Curry
Line Number 63
Sheet Letter B
Sheet Number 9
Affiliate Publication Number T627
Frank J Michilla's Parents and Siblings
OPEN ALL
Jennie Michilla
Mother
F
47
Michigan
Joseph Michilla, Jr
Father
M
57
France
Joan M Michilla
Sister
F
14
Michigan
Elizebeth M Michilla
Sister
F
18
Michigan
Robert P Michilla
Brother
M
10
Michigan
Inez Michilla
Sister
F
26
Michigan
Cynthia A Michilla
Sister
F
20
Michigan
LIEUT. MICHELA DIED IN ACTION OVER FRANCE
2nd Lieut. Frank Michela, 28, son of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Michels, 634 Huron Street, Ironwood, Gogebic, Michigan, who was reported missing in action over France on Aug. 11, 1944, was killed in action on
that date. The Michelas were former residents here. 2nd Lieut. Michela was a pilot of a Mustang P-51 fighter plane when he was killed 15 miles southwest of Metz.
Michela was born in Iron Mountain & graduated from here in 1933. He was president of the student
body & active in dramatics & other extra curricular activities including the Little Theater Guild.
He accompanied his family when they moved to Ironwood in 1934 & went to work as a bookkeeper
for the Morgan umber Co. He entered the United States Army in the fall of 1941 & held the rank of
TSgt at Keesler Field, Mississippi, where he soon developed an interest in aviation.
He was transferred to the Army Air Corps & at his request, in March 1943, was sent fr pre-flight training.
He received his commission & wings Jan. 7, 1944 at Craig Field.
Six months later, on July 7, 1944, Lieut. Michela was sent overseas & a month later engaged in battle
from which he failed to return.
It has since been learned that he died on the day he was reported missing in action.
2nd Lieut. Frank Michela leaves his parents, 2 brothers: Albert & Domenic; 4 sisters: Inez, a Navy nurse; Joan, a cadet nurse; Cynthia & Elizabeth; uncles Domenic & Frank Michela; Gust, James & John Giachino & an aunt, Mrs. Ralph Bruno. (May 9, 1945, Daily News, Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan.)
1st Lt Frank Michela was shot down at 03 half past PM in 1944 August the 11th by the German Flak
at SURIAUVILLE in the Vosges Mountains in the east of France, at 3 kms South-east of Contrexeville.
He crashed in the forest called: "Bois des Noves".
His last mission (codifided: RAMROD) was escorting Bombers aircrafts over Sarrbrücken (Germany).
He had taken off from air base 122 Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire, UK and flighted in formation
called "Bentley Red 2".
He was buried first in this little village and there are two memorials there for his memory.
A person who had seen his aircraft crash, M. Julien THIEROT, was 21 in 1944. He tells me that German's troup with motor-bicycles armed with machine guns arrived very fast on the crash site. But there are French people who can take the papers of this pilot before Germans arrived. After, his body was transported into the school house, where the ladies of the village proceeded to his mortuary washed. (submitted by FROMMER Jean-Loup.)
1920
1930
United States Census, 1940Frank J Michilla
Sex Male
Age
23 years
Event Date 1940
Event Place
Ironwood Township, Gogebic, Michigan, United States
Event Place Ironwood City, Ironwood City, Ironwood, Ironwood, 27-16, Gogebic, Michigan, United States
Event Type Census
Residence Date 1935
Residence Place Same Place
Birth Date 1917
Birthplace Michigan
Marital Status Single
Race White
Ethnicity American
Relationship to Head of Household SON
Enumeration District Number 27-16 Ironwood City bounded by (N) Chicago & North Western Railway; (E) Lake, McLeod Av, Mill; (S) Pine; (W) Balsam, Vaughn, Curry
Line Number 63
Sheet Letter B
Sheet Number 9
Affiliate Publication Number T627
Frank J Michilla's Parents and Siblings
OPEN ALL
Jennie Michilla
Mother
F
47
Michigan
Joseph Michilla, Jr
Father
M
57
France
Joan M Michilla
Sister
F
14
Michigan
Elizebeth M Michilla
Sister
F
18
Michigan
Robert P Michilla
Brother
M
10
Michigan
Inez Michilla
Sister
F
26
Michigan
Cynthia A Michilla
Sister
F
20
Michigan
Frank died in Metz, France, serving his country in World War II. He is the son of Joseph Michela & brother to Al.(Dickinson County, Michigan Department of Veterans Affairs.)
LIEUT. MICHELA DIED IN ACTION OVER FRANCE
2nd Lieut. Frank Michela, 28, son of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Michels, 634 Huron Street, Ironwood, Gogebic, Michigan, who was reported missing in action over France on Aug. 11, 1944, was killed in action on
that date. The Michelas were former residents here. 2nd Lieut. Michela was a pilot of a Mustang P-51 fighter plane when he was killed 15 miles southwest of Metz.
Michela was born in Iron Mountain & graduated from here in 1933. He was president of the student
body & active in dramatics & other extra curricular activities including the Little Theater Guild.
He accompanied his family when they moved to Ironwood in 1934 & went to work as a bookkeeper
for the Morgan umber Co. He entered the United States Army in the fall of 1941 & held the rank of
TSgt at Keesler Field, Mississippi, where he soon developed an interest in aviation.
He was transferred to the Army Air Corps & at his request, in March 1943, was sent fr pre-flight training.
He received his commission & wings Jan. 7, 1944 at Craig Field.
Six months later, on July 7, 1944, Lieut. Michela was sent overseas & a month later engaged in battle
from which he failed to return.
It has since been learned that he died on the day he was reported missing in action.
2nd Lieut. Frank Michela leaves his parents, 2 brothers: Albert & Domenic; 4 sisters: Inez, a Navy nurse; Joan, a cadet nurse; Cynthia & Elizabeth; uncles Domenic & Frank Michela; Gust, James & John Giachino & an aunt, Mrs. Ralph Bruno. (May 9, 1945, Daily News, Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan.)
1st Lt Frank Michela was shot down at 03 half past PM in 1944 August the 11th by the German Flak
at SURIAUVILLE in the Vosges Mountains in the east of France, at 3 kms South-east of Contrexeville.
He crashed in the forest called: "Bois des Noves".
His last mission (codifided: RAMROD) was escorting Bombers aircrafts over Sarrbrücken (Germany).
He had taken off from air base 122 Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire, UK and flighted in formation
called "Bentley Red 2".
He was buried first in this little village and there are two memorials there for his memory.
A person who had seen his aircraft crash, M. Julien THIEROT, was 21 in 1944. He tells me that German's troup with motor-bicycles armed with machine guns arrived very fast on the crash site. But there are French people who can take the papers of this pilot before Germans arrived. After, his body was transported into the school house, where the ladies of the village proceeded to his mortuary washed. (submitted by FROMMER Jean-Loup.)
1920
1930
United States Census, 1940Frank J Michilla
Sex Male
Age
23 years
Event Date 1940
Event Place
Ironwood Township, Gogebic, Michigan, United States
Event Place Ironwood City, Ironwood City, Ironwood, Ironwood, 27-16, Gogebic, Michigan, United States
Event Type Census
Residence Date 1935
Residence Place Same Place
Birth Date 1917
Birthplace Michigan
Marital Status Single
Race White
Ethnicity American
Relationship to Head of Household SON
Enumeration District Number 27-16 Ironwood City bounded by (N) Chicago & North Western Railway; (E) Lake, McLeod Av, Mill; (S) Pine; (W) Balsam, Vaughn, Curry
Line Number 63
Sheet Letter B
Sheet Number 9
Affiliate Publication Number T627
Frank J Michilla's Parents and Siblings
OPEN ALL
Jennie Michilla
Mother
F
47
Michigan
Joseph Michilla, Jr
Father
M
57
France
Joan M Michilla
Sister
F
14
Michigan
Elizebeth M Michilla
Sister
F
18
Michigan
Robert P Michilla
Brother
M
10
Michigan
Inez Michilla
Sister
F
26
Michigan
Cynthia A Michilla
Sister
F
20
Michigan
LIEUT. MICHELA DIED IN ACTION OVER FRANCE
2nd Lieut. Frank Michela, 28, son of Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Michels, 634 Huron Street, Ironwood, Gogebic, Michigan, who was reported missing in action over France on Aug. 11, 1944, was killed in action on
that date. The Michelas were former residents here. 2nd Lieut. Michela was a pilot of a Mustang P-51 fighter plane when he was killed 15 miles southwest of Metz.
Michela was born in Iron Mountain & graduated from here in 1933. He was president of the student
body & active in dramatics & other extra curricular activities including the Little Theater Guild.
He accompanied his family when they moved to Ironwood in 1934 & went to work as a bookkeeper
for the Morgan umber Co. He entered the United States Army in the fall of 1941 & held the rank of
TSgt at Keesler Field, Mississippi, where he soon developed an interest in aviation.
He was transferred to the Army Air Corps & at his request, in March 1943, was sent fr pre-flight training.
He received his commission & wings Jan. 7, 1944 at Craig Field.
Six months later, on July 7, 1944, Lieut. Michela was sent overseas & a month later engaged in battle
from which he failed to return.
It has since been learned that he died on the day he was reported missing in action.
2nd Lieut. Frank Michela leaves his parents, 2 brothers: Albert & Domenic; 4 sisters: Inez, a Navy nurse; Joan, a cadet nurse; Cynthia & Elizabeth; uncles Domenic & Frank Michela; Gust, James & John Giachino & an aunt, Mrs. Ralph Bruno. (May 9, 1945, Daily News, Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan.)
1st Lt Frank Michela was shot down at 03 half past PM in 1944 August the 11th by the German Flak
at SURIAUVILLE in the Vosges Mountains in the east of France, at 3 kms South-east of Contrexeville.
He crashed in the forest called: "Bois des Noves".
His last mission (codifided: RAMROD) was escorting Bombers aircrafts over Sarrbrücken (Germany).
He had taken off from air base 122 Steeple Morden, Cambridgeshire, UK and flighted in formation
called "Bentley Red 2".
He was buried first in this little village and there are two memorials there for his memory.
A person who had seen his aircraft crash, M. Julien THIEROT, was 21 in 1944. He tells me that German's troup with motor-bicycles armed with machine guns arrived very fast on the crash site. But there are French people who can take the papers of this pilot before Germans arrived. After, his body was transported into the school house, where the ladies of the village proceeded to his mortuary washed. (submitted by FROMMER Jean-Loup.)
1920
1930
United States Census, 1940Frank J Michilla
Sex Male
Age
23 years
Event Date 1940
Event Place
Ironwood Township, Gogebic, Michigan, United States
Event Place Ironwood City, Ironwood City, Ironwood, Ironwood, 27-16, Gogebic, Michigan, United States
Event Type Census
Residence Date 1935
Residence Place Same Place
Birth Date 1917
Birthplace Michigan
Marital Status Single
Race White
Ethnicity American
Relationship to Head of Household SON
Enumeration District Number 27-16 Ironwood City bounded by (N) Chicago & North Western Railway; (E) Lake, McLeod Av, Mill; (S) Pine; (W) Balsam, Vaughn, Curry
Line Number 63
Sheet Letter B
Sheet Number 9
Affiliate Publication Number T627
Frank J Michilla's Parents and Siblings
OPEN ALL
Jennie Michilla
Mother
F
47
Michigan
Joseph Michilla, Jr
Father
M
57
France
Joan M Michilla
Sister
F
14
Michigan
Elizebeth M Michilla
Sister
F
18
Michigan
Robert P Michilla
Brother
M
10
Michigan
Inez Michilla
Sister
F
26
Michigan
Cynthia A Michilla
Sister
F
20
Michigan
Inscription
MICHELA
FRANK MICHELA
2ND LIEUT 305 AA FIGHTER GP
WORLD WAR II
AUG 31 1916 AUG 11 1944
