Frank Hall Coleman

Military

Assigned to 342BS, 97BG, 15AF USAAF. 32 x missions. Failed to Return (FTR) Munich 19-Jul-44, flak, crashed Forstern, Bavaria; Prisoner of War(POW) MACR 6745.



Awards: PH, POW, WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medals.



Post war: Remained in USAF, serving in Korea and Vietnam with Strategic Air Command and Military Air Transport Service. Later joined NASA as support for manned space program. Retired from USAF HQ, Pentagon, Washington DC in 1966.

Connections

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Units served with

Ground personnel of the 97th Bomb Group reservice a B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 41-9023) nicknamed "Yankee Doodle", following the raid on Rouen. Image stamped on reverse: 'Associated Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publication 18 Aug 1942.' [stamp], 'Air=SER (Boeing).' [written annotation] and '216112.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'U.S FLYING FORTRESSES RAID ROUEN IN DAYLIGHT. Associated Press Photo Shows: No sooner had one of the huge Fortresses landed after the raid than ground crew im
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18159083 / O-816682
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 97th Bomb Group 342nd Bomb Squadron

Places

Prisoners of war, including Colonel Hubert Zemke of the 479th Fighter Group at Stalag Luft I.
  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft I, Barth, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Topeka, KS, USA 29 April 1923 Born Topeka, Kansas. Son of William H Jr and Jessie A [Webb] Coleman.

Enlisted

San Antonio, TX, USA 6 February 1943

Other

Baled out

Forstern, Germany 19 July 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) Munich 19-Jul-44, flak, crashed Forstern, Bavaria; Prisoner of War(POW) MACR 6745.

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Barth, Germany 19 July 1944 Prisoner of War(POW). Stalag Luft I.

Died

Austin, TX, USA 18 October 2009
San Antonio, TX, USA

Based

Amendola 19 July 1944 Assigned to 342BS, 97BG, 15AF USAAF.