Frank Hern Hilsabeck
Military
41-24617 "Southern Comfort" WF-J, badly damaged mission to Rotterdam, 31 march 43, crew abandoned A/C over UK, 1 x KIA, 9 x RTD. Pilot managed to stagger back to belly landing at Beacon Hill, near Wickham Bishops, Witham, Eng.
Rear L-R – 2Lt William J Lakey[Copilot], 2Lt James Alfred Moberly[Nav], Lt Hugh Ashcoft[Pilot], 2Lt Bert M Wells[Bomb], S/Sgt James Patterson[Waist].
Front L-R – T/Sgt Stephen L Gogolya[TT/Eng], T/Sgt Douglas Glover[Radio], S/Sgt Frank Hern Hilsabeck[TailGun], S/Sgt Ray Armstrong[Ball Turret], S/Sgt Frank Corser[Waist].
Object Number - UPL 19388 - 1st Lt Ashcraft and crew of the 305th Bomb Group, are shown beside a B-17 Flying Fortress. 29 November 1942. England. 41-24617 "Southern Comfort"...
Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. Frank was inducted into the USAAC on 8-Jan-42 and entered the war, stationed in Chelveston, England, where he flew out of the base as a tail-gunner on a B-17 Bomber. Having completed his 25 missions in June 1943. ETD
Awards: AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14049827 / O-?
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
![An airman of the 305th Bomb Group in the cockpit of a B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Southern Comfort". Passed for publication 17 Feb 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '305BG. 16-2-43.' On reverse: Associated Press, US Army Press Censor ETO and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407682.jpg.webp?itok=0l1Sg-HC)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Southern Comfort
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Holdrege, NE | 21 February 1919 | Son of Hale Hern and Fredricka Albertina "Fritz" [Linden] Hilsabeck. |
|
Enlisted |
Fort Crook, NE | 8 January 1942 | Fort Crook, Nebraska |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
9 October 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Holdrege, NE | 12 March 2012 | |
|
Buried |
Prairie Home Cemetery Holdrege, Phelps County, NE, | 15 March 2012 | Prairie Home Cemetery Holdrege, Phelps County, Nebraska, |
|
Based |
Chelveston | Assigned to 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
305th Bomb Group Roster / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
