World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Frank L. Belsante
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Newark, New Jersey
Honored By
John Peterson
ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS, ATTENDING FLIGHT SCHOOL. UPON GRADUATION, HIS RANK OF LIEUTENANT WAS ASSIGNED TO THE 463RD BOMB GROUP, 15TH AIR FORCE AS A BOMBARDIER, CONDUCTING 35 MISSIONS OVER GERMAN-OCCUPIED EUROPE. ONE MISSION THAT STOOD OUT WAS THE DECEMBER 25, 1944, RAID ON THE MOST HEAVILY DEFENDED TARGET IN EUROPE, THE SYNTHETIC OIL REFINERY IN BRUX, CZECHOSLOVAKIA. HE WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL AND THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS FOR HIS ACTIONS DURING THIS MISSION.