World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
George J. Drank
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Honored By
George J. Drank
Was inducted into the U.S. Navy on March 29, 1943 and entered into active duty on April 4, 1943; reported to the Naval Training Station (NTS) at Sampson, New York. Upon completion of basic training, was transferred to the Naval Air Technical Training Center (NATC) in Memphis, Tennessee in June 1943. While at Naval Air Technical Training Center, completed the aviation radioman course and a brief radar operator course; graduated in October 1943 having earned the enlisted rating of Aviation Radioman 3rd Class. Then attended the Naval Air Gunnery School in Hollywood, Florida during the months of November and December 1943; qualified as an aerial gunner. During the months of January, February, and March 1944, completed flight operational training in 'Avenger' torpedo-bomber at the Naval Facility in Opa Locka, Florida. At the graduation ceremony at Opa Locka, was awarded the Navy Silver Combat Aircrew Wings. From April 8 to April 19, was attached to Carrier Aircraft Service Unit 21 for temporary duty. On April 19, 1944, was assigned to Composite Squadron Six (VC-6); then shore based on Manteo, North Carolina. VC-6 was an anti-submarine Squadron that utilized 'Avenger' torpedo-bomber aircraft while operating off of escort carriers in the Atlantic to search for and destroy enemy submarines. Task force consisted of an escort carrier and five destroyer escorts. While assigned to VC-6, served on the USS Core CVE-13, USS Tripoli CVE-64, and the USS Guadalcanal CVE-60; served as a radioman, radar operator in aircraft anti-submarine missions. VC-6 was decommissioned on October 15, 1945 at a ceremony at Naval Air Station (NAS) in Norfolk, Virginia. Was then reassigned to Carrier Aircraft Unit 21 for temporary duty from October 15 to November 15, 1945. Temporary duty station was the Naval Receiving Station (NRS) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; attached from November 15 to November 30. From the Naval Receiving Station, was transferred to the Naval Separation Center in Bainbridge, Maryland where honorably discharge as an Aviation Radioman 2nd Class on December 6, 1945.