Frank Patterson Hunter Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOURPhotograph provided by Malcolm Osborn.
Commander, 398th Bomb Group from 1 March 1943 to 23 January 1945.
Killed in Action at Heerdt in B-17 #44-8224.
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
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Portsmouth, VA, USA | 21 February 1908 | |
Other Commissioned |
13 June 1933 | Bachelor of Science, US Military Academy, 1933 | |
Other Distinguished Flying Cross Award: GENERAL ORDERS No. 375 |
23 September 1944 - 23 September 1944 | For extraordinary achievement while serving as Air Commander of a Combat Bombardment Wing composed of B-17 aircraft on two bombing missions over enemy occupied territory. On both of these occasions Colonel Hunter demonstrated consummate flying skill and exemplary leadership in attacking installations of vital importance to the enemy. On 15 June, 1944, he directed the formation to the designated target where bombs were released and outstanding results obtained. Colonel Hunter led the Wing on 1 August, 1944, to the assigned objective with a high degree of proficiency. Upon reaching the target area the airplane in which he was flying was badly damaged by anti-aircraft fire. He continued on the bombing run and although haze and clouds made sighting the target difficult, bombs were dropped with accuracy. The courage, coolness and superior airmanship displayed by Colonel Hunter on this occasion reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States. Entered the military service from North Carolina. | |
Died |
Düsseldorf-Heerdt, Düsseldorf, Germany | 23 January 1945 | Dusseldorf |
Buried |
Plot D Row 11 Grave 35 |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.
398th BG Memorial Association eulogy by William J. Humphries, as published in the unit newsletter Flak News:
https://www.398th.org/FlakNews/Articles/Hunter/Hunter_Humphries.html
Brought in information from duplicate record. Sources:
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 11799, Leonard Streitfeld's Hell from Heaven: Memoirs of a WW II B-17 Bombardier; Fortress Over Nuthampstead, pg 9
https://abmc.gov/node/546527#.WXclo02GOM8
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56358883
BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF TEH EIGHTH AIR FORCE 1942-1945, ( Command and Staff Officers) by Russell A. Strong
BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE, 1942-1945 (Command and Staff Officers) by Russell A. Strong
MACR 11799 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database