Frank Patterson Hunter Jr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-25615.jpeg UPL 25615 COL Frank P. Hunter, 398th Bomb Group commander, with B-17G-35-DL 'Witka Tanka Ton' 42-107138. COL Hunter flew this aircraft from Rapid City Army Air Base to England, leading deployment of his group to combat in 1944.

Photograph provided by Malcolm Osborn.

Object Number - UPL 25615 - COL Frank P. Hunter, 398th Bomb Group commander, with B-17G-35-DL 'Witka Tanka Ton' 42-107138. COL Hunter flew this aircraft from Rapid City Army Air...

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

The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Witka Tanka Ton
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron

Places

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

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Contributoracbernstein1
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Contributoracbernstein1
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ContributorVon_L
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RCAAB data update by Von_L

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added a "-" to the A/C serial # in the "Summary biography" for clarity.

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ContributorVon_L
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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

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ContributorLucy May
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Sources

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

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Contributorbombercommand
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BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF TEH EIGHTH AIR FORCE 1942-1945, ( Command and Staff Officers) by Russell A. Strong

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Contributorbombercommand
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BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE, 1942-1945 (Command and Staff Officers) by Russell A. Strong

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ContributorAAM
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Sources

MACR 11799 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Frank Patterson Hunter: Gallery (5 items)