|
 |
|
|
| Missing In Action (MIA) | Prisoners Of War (POW) | Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) |
| Chronology | Locations | Aircraft | Ships | Submit Info | How You Can Help | Donate |
|
| USAAF 5th AF 348th FG 342nd FS  Frankfort c1944 |
Pilot 1st Lt. Wynans "Flip" E. Frankfort, O-797812 (survived) Franklin, VA Crashed October 22, 1943 MACR none Aircraft History Built by the Indiana Division of Republic Aviation was opened at Evansville, IN. Constructor Number 248. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as P-47D-2-RA Thunderbolt serial number 42-22497. Disassembled and shipped overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) and reassembled. Wartime History Assigned to the 5th Air Force (5th AF), 348th Fighter Group (348th FG), 342nd Fighter Squadron (342nd FS) "Scourgers". No known nose art or nickname. Mission History On October 22, 1943 at 8:40am took off from Tsili Tsili Airfield piloted by 1st Lt. Wynans "Flip" E. Frankfort on a mission to escort B-25 Mitchells over Wewak. The weather was heavy cloud cover and overcast at 10,000' enroute with heavy storms over the target area. Returning, Frankfort became lost and bailed out over the Fly River area. Fate of the Pilot After landing safely, he spent two days lost in the jungle. After finding locals, he spent another four days with them until he was taken to Allied forces and walked to Madiri rubber plantation to await rescue. Rescue On October 31, 1943 rescued by OA-10 Catalina 43-3263 piloted by Lt. Lange that landed off Madiri rubber plantation on the Fly River. Bruce Fenstermaker adds: "On the first MIA mission of Oct. '43 he was escorting 8 B-25s along with his (flight/element). The distance was just about too far and the P-47s were critical on fuel and one of the others had to ditch in a small lake (river). Some time later he had to bail out because of fuel exhaustion also. He bailed out at 1200 feet and landed up in a tree that was 150 ft. high. He broke a rib and sustained bruises and scrapes when he fell trying to get down. He received a Purple heart for these injuries and because he didn't boast of the Kavieng Silver Star recommendation and later be awarded posthumously after his recovery and return in 1995 or his kills - I believe he was rather shy about his purple heart after all that he had gone through to this point in the war - getting one for falling out of a tree was rather embarrassing. He tried making it out for two days wandering generally following the Fly river when he found a small village with some friendly natives who rescued him and for 4 more days ferried him down to a plantation housing American forces. His family already received the telegram that he was MIA somewhere in New Guinea and were heart sick of his loss but only a week later receiving another telegram of his survival." Memorials On May 27, 1944 Frankfort went Missing In Action (MIA) piloting P-47D Thunderbolt 42-75940 over Biak. References NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Wynans E. Frankfort USAF Serial Number Search Results - P-47D-2-RA Thunderbolt 42-22497 "22497 (342nd FS, 348th FG, 5th AF) crashed in Fly River area, Papua New Guinea after ran out of fuel Oct 22, 1943. Pilot bailed out and was rescued by friendly natives." Missing Air Crew Report 6606 (MACR 6606) page 7 mentions rescue of Frankfort National Archives of Australia (NAA) "Thunderbolt - U.S Missing Aircraft, page 2 of 33 (NAA: A9845, 302 Thanks to Bruce Fenstermaker 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
|
 P-47 |
| Discussion Forum | Daily Updates | Reviews | Museums | Interviews & Oral Histories |
|
