World War II Honoree

Frank J. Elston

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

St. Petersburg, Florida

Honored By

An Indebted American

SERVED AS A PILOT. FLEW B-17, B-34, AND B-29 AIRCRAFT. RECIPIENT OF THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS FOR HIS BOMBING MISSIONS IN EUROPE. GIVEN ONE OF THE FEW AMERICAN THEATRE OF WAR RIBBONS FOR FLYING B-17 PATROLS OUT OF NEW YORK CITY. DURING THE LATER PART OF THE WAR, HE AND HIS CREW WERE SMUGGLED BACK INTO THE U.S. DRESSED IN CIVILIAN CLOTHES TO TRAIN ON THE NEW B-29 IN PREPARATION FOR THE BOMBING OF JAPAN. THE WAR ENDED BEFORE THE TEAM HAD TO USE THEIR TRAINING.