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| USAAF 5th AF 312th BG 388th BS |
Pilot 1st Lt. Albert H. Franz (survived) SD Gunner Cpl Eugene S. Stranz (survived) Ditched January 9, 1945 MACR none Aircraft History Built by Douglas Aircraft Company. Constructors Number 21808. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as A-20G-45-DO Havoc serial number 43-22161. Disassembled and shipped to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History On October 25, 1944 assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 312th Bombardment Group (312th BG), 388th Bombardment Squadron (388th BS). Nicknamed "Bug Eyes". Assigned to pilot Hube with crew chief Yoes. Mission History On January 9, 1945 took off from Tanauan Airfield on Leyte piloted by 1st Lt. Albert H. Franz armed with 100 lbs parademo bombs on a mission against Talisay Airfield on Negros Island. While attacking the runway at 50' altitude, this A-20 was hit in the left engine by anti-aircraft fire, and oil pressure dropped to zero, and failed to feather in the damaged engine. This A-20 ditched into the Guimaras Strait 600' west of Guimaras Island and sank within 30 seconds. Fates of the Crew During the landing, Franz suffered minor injuries. Afterwards, both crew deployed their life raft as the plane sank. Reaching shore, Filipinos took them to a doctor in Libis village then suggested they sail to Panay Island, as a precaution in case their ditching had been observed by the Japanese. The pair departed in a sail boat but encountered a storm and were forced to take shelter on eastern Guimaras Island for two day until the bad weather passed. Arriving on Panay Island, they were fired on by Japanese forces but safely reached Filipino guerrilla headquarters at Buyo on January 13, 1945. After five days, departed by truck to Rototan, then walked to Passi then used a railroad handcar to reach Sante Angel before reaching Dumarao Airfield on January 22, 1945 and were transported by C-47 back to Leyte. Wreckage This aircraft was reportedly located by local fisherman in the Guimaras Strait at a depth of 40' roughly 600 yards off Iloilo between Panay and Negros. In February 2002, former pilot, Al Franz visited the island, in an attempt to locate his aircraft. John Happy, 312th BG reports: "Al Franz and his group went to the Philippines in February 2002, to try to find his A-20 but were unsuccessful. Supposedly, a fisher man had hooked a net on the tail of the bird (as reported by a SCUBA diver) in about 40' of water. The local charts said the water depth was 6-7 fathoms (36-42 feet), But when they dove, they ran into silt at 20' with about 12" of visibility. No luck." Memorials Franz retired from the U.S. Air Force (USAF) with the rank of Major. He passed away on May 25, 2008 at age 88. He is buried at Fort Snelling National Cemetery at section 12, site 518. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Albert H. Franz USAF Serial Number Search Results - A-20G-45-DO Havoc 43-22161 Rampage of the Roarin' 20's (2009) pages 190 (map), 231-232, 362 FindAGrave - Maj Albert Henry Franz (obituary, grave photo) Thanks to John Happy for additional information Contribute Information Are you a relative or associated with any person mentioned? Do you have photos or additional information to add? Last Updated
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 A-20  40' |
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