World War II Honoree

Franklin Joseph Anderson

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

DeKalb County, Illinois

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED AS AN AVIATION CADET IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON 23 NOVEMBER 1940 AT CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. UNDERWENT B-26 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT MUROC ARMY AIR FIELD NORTH OF PALMDALE, CALIFORNIA. DEPLOYED TO THE SOUTHWEST PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS, AND WAS ASSIGNED TO FIFTH AIR FORCE, V BOMBER COMMAND, 22ND BOMBARDMENT GROUP (MEDIUM), 2ND BOMB SQUADRON, STATIONED AT REID RIVER AIRFIELD, ABOUT 40 MILES SOUTH OF TOWNSVILLE IN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA. ON 16 DECEMBER 1942, HIS AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED FROM REID RIVER AIRFIELD TO LOGISTICALLY STAGE THROUGH SCHWIMMER AIRDROME LOCATED 14 MILES NORTHWEST OF PORT MORESBY; PAPUA NEW GUINEA. AT 1015 HUNDRED HOURS LOCAL TIME ON 17 DECEMBER 1942, HE FLEW AS THE PILOT ABOARD A MARTIN B-26 MARAUDER NICKNAMED 'FURY' (TAIL # 40-1529). THE MISSION INVOLVED FLYING OVER THE 13,000-FOOT OWEN STANLEY MOUNTAIN RANGE NEAR KOKODA TO STRIKE JAPANESE FORCES OCCUPYING THE AIRFIELD AT BUNA ON THE NORTHEAST COAST OF PAPUA NEW GUINEA. ON THE WAY TO THE TARGET, HIS AIRCRAFT WAS LAST SEEN FLYING NORTHWARDS THROUGH THE KOKODA GAP AND IS BELIEVED TO HAVE CRASHED IN THE STEEP MOUNTAINS. NO WRECKAGE WAS EVER FOUND AND TWO YEARS LATER THE ENTIRE CREW WAS OFFICIALLY DECLARED DEAD ON 13 DECEMBER 1945.