Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
PORTER, Frank Claude
Date of birth
19 December 1923
Age
21
Place of birth
Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California
Hometown
Cascade County, Montana

Military service

Service number
19125019
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Navigator
Unit
559th Bombardment Squadron,
387th Bombardment Group, Medium
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Finding of Death
Date of death
23 December 1944
Place of death
Luxembourg city, Luxembourg

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
Plot Row Grave
E 14 30

Immediate family

Members
Lyle O. Porter (father)
Claude Johnson (stepfather)
Mary E. Porter (mother)
Eugene Porter (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-107577
Data
Type: B-26C
Nickname: Hot Garters #2
Destination: Mayen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of a railroad bridge
MACR: 11403

More information

S/Sgt Frank C. Porter attended Great Falls High School and was employed at Strain Brothers store.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Butte, Montana on 5 November 1942 and was sent overseas in April 1944.

The airplane was hit by enemy fire from enemy fighters in the tail and the rear, destroying the rudder. It was last seen when it glided down to the right of the formation.

Three crew members survived, five men were killed.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - Great Falls Tribune

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Luxembourg American Cemetery, www.newspapers.com - Great Falls Tribune