Frank G Whitney Jr

Military
media-34753.jpeg UPL 34753 Frank G Whitney Jr. Frank G Whitney Jr.

Photo in my, his daughter's, posession

Object Number - UPL 34753 - Frank G Whitney Jr.

He flew on Paul Martin crew. Reported to the ETO on 17 Jul 1944. AM 5OLC,

Frank flew with a squadron unofficially called the Clay Pigeons because they were so easily shot down before long range fighter planes were developed. He was a radio operator but had the additional duty of switching on the Tokyo or reserve fuel tanks when needed because the toggle was at his feet. He also had to check in with the pilots every hour. He would listen so as not to interrupt and then give his report. One mission all four engines lost thrust at the same time and the plane fell from 27,000 feet to 9,000 feet. He said the pilot was so good, he did not realize they were in trouble and gaily waved to an airman in the next plane. All but one engine was restarted and the mission continued.



Towards the end of the mission Frank would check in and kept hearing discussion about ditching in the channel...or landing in Norway, how little gas was left. He finally spoke up and asked if it was time for him to switch to the Tokyo Tank of the non working engine. There was silence in the cockpit for a minute and then, “Hooray! We can make it to England!” It was Christmas Eve and they landed at a dark deserted Canadian Air Base. Once landed, the plane settled back on the tail wheel causing the fuel to shift to the rear of the plane. The plane stopped mid runway, completely out of gas.

Connections

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Units served with

Official insignia of the 306th Bomb Group, approved 6 January 1943, and updated 2 October 1951.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35235250
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20827826
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14092504
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-813748
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: We Promised
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron 306th Bomb Group 532nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Verna e
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 306th Bomb Group 367th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group

Missions

Ground crew attend to a crashed P-51 Mustang nicknamed "Baby Jo" of the 357th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: ' Lt Noel Breen ran out of fuel 9 Feb '45.'
  • Date: 9 February 1945
  • Date: 12 December 1944
  • Date: 11 December 1944
  • Date: 9 December 1944

Places

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
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Added " / " in the "Role/job" field to aid readability.

 

Date
ContributorChris G
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Dad's first mission was Aug 1944 so the May 1944 one would have been too early for him.

Date
ContributorChris G
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From the 306th Bomb Group Historical Association

Date
ContributorChris G
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I have met these men at crew reunions.

Date
ContributorChris G
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I have met him at the crew reunions.

Date
ContributorChris G
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His family called him by his middle name, Grant, to distinguish him from his father with the same name. Military officials used his first name, Frank, so that is what his fellow airman called him.

Date
ContributorEmily
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Information provided by Christine Guzowski, daughter

Whitney's Mission reports at 306bg.us

Date
ContributorChris G
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Photos in his daughter's possession

Date
ContributorChris G
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This story was told to me, Frank's daughter, many times. When the crew got together for reunions later in life, this story was told.

Date
ContributorChris G
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Rank of T/Sgt is listed on his Separation Qualification Record

Date
ContributorAAM
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306th BG Association Directory, 1 September 1999 Edition, 306th BGA Collection, Russell Strong Index Cards, / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://www.306bg.org/crewphotos/Crew%20Pictures%20Adam-Rector/Crew%20Pi…

Frank G Whitney: Gallery (2 items)