Worthington Alfred Franks
Military
media-44017.jpeg
UPL 44017
B-24D, 42-40102. Old Baldy's nose art. Navigator Worthington A. Franks, (left) and Bombardier Joseph E. Finneran, (right) side. All crewmen were KIA on Operation Tidal Wave. Aircraft lost, shot down by flak. 10 KIA. 1 Aug 1943.
Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill
Lt. Worthington Alfred Franks was a B-24 navigator assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, in the 9th Air Force, USAAF, on the B-24D, 42-40102, Old Baldy, shot down over Ploesti, Romania, hit by an AA direct hit from a Rumanian 80 mm cannon shell. Pilot 1st. Lt. John J. Dore and crew were all killed in action in the crash. 10 KIA. MACR 223.
Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (5OLC), PH.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11010920 / O-437913
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Old Baldy
- Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Florence American Cemetery, Tavarnuzze, Italy
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Charlotte, TX | 4 November 1919 | Son of Vollie Oden Franks and Adelaide [Clayton] Grunnah. |
Enlisted |
Houston, TX | 11 January 1942 | Houston, Texas |
Died |
Ploiești, Romania | 1 August 1943 | Navigator on B-24 42-40102 'Old Baldy' Lost near the target, Ploesti, AA hit point blank at 30 feet or less from a Rumanian 80 mm. Pilot 1st Lt John J Dore. 10 KIA. MACR 223. |
Galveston, TX, USA | Galveston, Texas, USA. | ||
Buried |
Tablet of the Missing Florence, Provincia di Firenze, Toscana, Italy. | ||
Based Assigned |
Libya | 1 August 1943 | Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF. |
Buried |
Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, TX | Memorialised Restland Memorial Park Dallas, Dallas County, Texas |