World War II Honoree

Frank Pogozelski Porell

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pennsylvania

Honored By

Carol Porell

Relationship

Daughter

SECOND LIEUTENANT, POSITION ON THE B-17S NAVIGATOR. SERVED WITH THE 384TH BOMB GROUP, 547TH SQUADRON, 1ST AIR DIVISION STATIONED AT GRAFTON UNDERWOOD, ENGLAND. FLEW FIVE MISSIONS. ON THE FOURTH MISSION, THE B-17 'RUTHLESS' 42-30043 RAN OUT OF GAS AND DITCHED IN THE NORTH SEA, WHERE THEY WERE PICKED UP BY THE ENGLISH IN HM DRIFTER 'LORD KEITH' AND RETURNED TO GRAFTON UNDERWOOD AIR BASE. ON THE FIFTH AND LAST MISSION, ON OCTOBER 14, 1943, WAS SHOT DOWN RETURNING FROM THE BALL BEARING PLANT RAID ON SCHWEINFURT. BECAME A PRISONER OF WAR AND SPENT THE DURATION OF THE WAR IN A STALAG UNTIL LIBERATED.