World War II Honoree

Frank Fernandez, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Kings County, New York

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON SEPTEMBER 14, 1940 AT MOFFET FIELD NEAR THE SOUTH END OF SAN FRANCISCO BAY, CALIFORNIA. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT WALKER ARMY AIRFIELD, KANSAS. IN SEPTEMBER 1944, DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATION AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 500TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 881ST BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON FEBRUARY 10, 1945, HE FLEW IN THE RIGHT SEAT AS A PILOT ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS TAIL CODE Z-SQUARE-13 (SERIAL # 42-93876). IT WAS ONE OF 120 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-WING GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY PLANT AT OTA ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF TOKYO, JAPAN. WHILE OVER THE TARGET AREA, THE GROUP WAS ATTACKED BY A BAND OF NAKAJIMA KI-44 SINGLE-ENGINE 'TOJO' FIGHTER PLANES. HIS B-29 AIRCRAFT SUFFERED DAMAGE TO THE RIGHT WING AND # 3 ENGINE, AND WAS FORCED TO DITCH ON THE RETURN ROUTE FOR HOME, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE AIRCREW.