Pilot History
Wynans Ellis "Flip" Frankfort had amassed 400 hours of combat flying, and was credited with 2.5 kills plus one probably over Cape Gloucester. Previously he bailed out of P-47D 42-22497 and returned to duty. The Ki-43 Oscar he was attacking the day he was lost would have been his third kill. Lt. Frankfort earned the Silver Star after his P-47's tail was holed while on escort duty over Kavieng on February 14, 1944, several B-25 were shot down, and their crews rescued by PBY piloted by Nate Gordon. Frankfort went MIA at age 21.

Mission History
Several Japanese aircraft were strafing the American beach head area of Biak, and were intercepted by P-47's. Frankfort's P-47 went MIA while chasing a Ki-43 Oscar inland. In 1946 he was presumed dead, and declared non-recoverable in 1949.

Pilot George Burgess via 342nd Fighter Squadron, page 73:
"We were on patrol over the beachhead and shipping when I saw Grant start down. I started with him and saw three Oscars and a Tony. Grant overshot the first Oscar and I went up his tail giving him a long burst. Grant saw him crash into trees and explode. I made a climbing turn and then pulled in behind another Oscar and give him a long burst and when I pulled up and looked I saw him go into the trees and blow up. Nickell got one, Sutcliffe got one and I got two in this flight. Frankfort didn't come home and we never saw him again."

Wreckage
Bruce Fenstermaker located this wreck on April 19, 1991, doing a search pattern with villagers from Sauri through Makabo inland from the Bosnek beachead area. The wreckage was discovered upside down with Frankfort's remains in the cockpit. The tail stabilizer, with the US Army serial number clearly visible was discovered by villager Henkie Wackumbem, of Marcapol village who protected it, and send the site information to US Army CILHI.

Remains Returned & Silver Star Awarded
The remains were identified and returned to the family and buried back at his hometown in 1995, to a grateful older brother Philip Frankfort.

Silver Star Award
Frankfort had been recommended for a Silver Star Medal for his Kavieng escort mission. The medal was approved, but he went MIA before it was presented and until his 202 file was reviewed by TAPC after the recovery. No one in his family knew of the recommendation. His brother was asked to go to Fort Eustis, VA. to receive the Silver Star on behalf of his brother.

References
Thanks to Bruce Fenstermaker for additional information
342nd Fighter Squadron, page 73

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Last Updated
October 6, 2009

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