World War II Honoree

Francis Xavier Glacken

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cambridge, Massachusetts

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS IN 1941 AND ENLISTED AS AN AVIATION CADET IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS IN EARLY 1942. GRADUATED FROM THE ARMY PRIMARY FLYING SCHOOL AT MESA DEL REY, PALO ALTO AIRPORT NEAR KING CITY, CALIFORNIA AND WAS COMMISSIONED A 2ND LIEUTENANT. COMPLETED ADVANCED FLIGHT TRAINING AT CHICO ARMY AIR FIELD, CALIFORNIA IN JANUARY 1944. ASSIGNED TO HOBBS ARMY AIR FIELD, NEW MEXICO AND MCCOOK, NEBRASKA FOR MULTI-ENGINE AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT TRANSITION AND COMBAT CREW TRAINING AT PYOTE ARMY AIR FIELD, TEXAS. PROCESSED THROUGH HERINGTON AIR FIELD, KANSAS AND DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS. ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 500TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VH), 881ST BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. DURING THE NIGHT OF 23-24 MAY 1945, HE FLEW IN THE RIGHT SEAT AS A PILOT ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE: Z-SQUARE-7 (SERIAL #42-63486). IT WAS ONE OF 520 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN MULTI-WING GROUP FORMATIONS TO BOMBARD THE URBAN-INDUSTRIAL AREA SOUTH OF THE IMPERIAL PALACE IN TOKYO, JAPAN. AFTER BOMBS AWAY, THE PLANE’S RIGHT WING WAS SET AFIRE BY FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY. WHILE DEPARTING THE TARGET AREA, THE PLANE WAS HIT WITH FLAK IN THE REAR FUSELAGE THAT DESTROYED ALL THE FLIGHT CONTROLS INCLUDING THE INTERCOM. DURING AIRCREW BAIL-OUT, THE PLANE EXPLODED IN MID-AIR AND FELL INTO TOKYO BAY. HE WAS DECLARED KILLED IN ACTION ON 24 MAY 1945.