World War II Honoree

Howard Glen Frink

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Normal, Illinois

ENTERED THE ARMY ON 6-23-43, ASSIGNED TO ARMY AIR FORCES BASIC TRAINING AT AMARILLO, TEXAS; HIGH SPEED RADIO OPERATOR SCHOOL AT CAMP CROWDER, MISSOURI. ASSIGNED TO 2ND AIRCRAFT REPAIR UNIT (FLOATING) AT SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS; MARINE (OCEAN) TRAINING AT MOBILE, ALABAMA. SAILED FROM MOBILE TO GUANTANAMO BAY, CUBA, PANAMA CANAL, WEST (NO ESCORT) ACROSS PACIFIC TO SAIPAN, NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS. UNIT ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE AND SUPPORTED B-29 SUPER FORTRESS IN BOMBING MISSIONS OVER JAPAN. FIRST HELICOPTERS TO SERVE IN COMBAT ZONE OPERATED FROM SMALL FLIGHT DECK ON OUR SHIP, CARRYING AIRCRAFT PARTS AND EXPERT REPAIR PERSONNEL TO AND FROM ISLAND AIRSTRIPS. UNIT MOVED TO IWO JIMA WHEN ISLAND WAS SECURED TO REPAIR B-29'S WHICH LANDED THERE BECAUSE OF DAMAGE OVER JAPAN. ALSO SUPPORTED P-51 MUSTANG FIGHTERS BASED ON IWO JIMA TO ESCORT B-29'S ON THEIR RAIDS ON JAPAN FROM BASES ON SAIPAN, TINIAN AND GUAM. WAS ON IWO JIMA WHEN THE WAR ENDED. TRANSFERRED INTO HEADQUARTERS SQUADRON OF 7TH FIGHTER COMMAND AND MOVED BACK TO SAIPAN WITH THAT UNIT. LAST ASSIGNMENT WAS AS CHIEF NON-COMMISSIONED OFFICER (STAFF SERGEANT) IN BASE OPERATIONS AT THE B-29 BASE (ISLEY FIELD) ON SAIPAN. RECEIVED ORDERS ON MY 21ST BIRTHDAY (JANUARY 14) TO RETURN TO THE U.S. FOR DISCHARGE. CAME BACK ON AN AIRCRAFT CARRIER AND WAS DISCHARGED IN SAINT LOUIS, MISSOURI ON FEBRUARY 5, 1946.