Francis F Scannell
MilitaryPicture of crew and plane came from the Bombardier Arthur Dignam. He was a member of the "Lucky Bastard's Club" and an active member of the 94th BG Auxiliary Association.
35 missions from April to August 1944. Wrote a book One Man's War in 1984.
Pilot Frank Scannell arrived in England with his crew on 12th March 1944 and flew his first combat mission on April 10th. It was the third - that of 18th April 1944 - he most remembered, a maximum effort, some 300 bombers heading for Berlin. Just before the IP they were attacked by enemy fighters, then hit by heavy flak before the second wave of fighters pounced. Scannell saw several planes go down before their own escort of P-38 s appeared and there were no further fatalities but in a very few minutes the 94th Bomber Group had lost 10 aircraft, 100 men. As they arrived back at Rougham several of the returning aircraft were firing red flares to indicate wounded on board. After de-briefing they had something to eat - some twelve hours since breakfast - and back to their bunks.
AM/ DFC
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Rougham
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Medford, Massachusetts | 6 July 1917 | |
Died |
29 December 1997 | ||
Buried |
Malden, Massachusetts |
Revisions
Biography completed by historian Helen Millgate. Information sourced from newsletters of the 94th Bomb Group related to the service of Frank Scannell.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / son