Memorial

More information

While on the bomb run, about one minute before bombs away, the airplane received a direct hit by flak in the right wing, approximately 15 feet from the wing tip. This section fell off almost immediately. The airplane was seen to fell over the left and do a split S down into the clouds and was not seen thereafter. One crew reports seeing a portion of left wing break off; also reports fire in the cockpit. Neither of these observations borne out by other crews.

Col Frank P. Hunter Jr. went to Randolph Field after his graduation and commissioning in the Field Artillery. He elected the Air Force because the element of the air challenged his unflagging curiosity and because he correctly sensed that this undeveloped arm had to be exploited by a high degree of craftsmanship. In flying, the expert hand had to be revealed and maintained at all times. With his appreciation of high performance, it was only natural that he should try to win his wings. He got them in October, 1934. According to the pilot, Federico Gonzales, who survived, Col Hunter remained at the controls, struggling to right the spinning ship so that his crewmen might have a chance to bail out.

Col Hunter was the group commander during this mission.

From January 1945 to the summer of 1946, he was buried at the Northern Cemetery of Dusseldorf.