World War II Honoree

Frank C. Oldfather

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Wichita, Kansas

Honored By

Daughter

ENLISTED UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS MAY 6, 1942. RANK: MASTER TECHNICAL SERGEANT AVIATION. TEMPORARY SPECIAL QUALIFICATION: NAVIGATOR BOMBARDIER. SOUTHWEST PACIFIC ARENA JULY 10, 1944 TO AUGUST 22, 1945. PARTICIPATED IN THE CONSOLIDATION OF THE NORTHERN SOLOMON ISLANDS. SERIAL NUMBER 371469. FLEW OVER 15 MISSIONS. DAD WOULD ALWAYS CHECK WHAT INSTRUMENTATION HE HAD IN HIS B-25 FIGHTER, AND THEN HE WOULD ESTIMATE THE HEIGHT OF MOUNTAIN RANGES. DURING A BOMBING MISSION HIS SQUADRON WAS RETURNING TO ITS BASE. HE HAD HIS PLANE ON COURSE TO RETURN AND CLEAR MOUNTAINS IN ITS PATH. UPON HIS PLANE LANDING SAFELY HE LEARNED THAT OTHER PLANES IN THE SQUADRON HAD BEEN LOST. THEY DID NOT MAKE IT THROUGH THE MOUNTAIN RANGE. MY FATHER FELT BLESSED TO HAVE SURVIVED. HE WAS VERY PROUD AND HONORED TO HAVE SERVED HIS COUNTRY. THESE WERE THE MEN THAT GAVE THE MOST AND ASKED FOR NOTHING IN RETURN. THEY SIMPLY DID WHAT WAS RIGHT AND JUST, THEY WERE THE FLYING BOBCATS OF SQUADRON 443.