Worthington Alfred Franks

Military
media-44017.jpeg UPL 44017 B-24D, 42-40102. Old Baldy's nose art. Navigator Worthington A. Franks, (left) and Bombardier Joseph E. Finneran, (right) side. All crewmen were KIA on Operation Tidal Wave. Aircraft lost, shot down by flak. 10 KIA. 1 Aug 1943.

Black Sunday-Ploesti - Michael Hill

Object Number - UPL 44017 - B-24D, 42-40102. Old Baldy's nose art. Navigator Worthington A. Franks, (left) and Bombardier Joseph E. Finneran, (right) side. All crewmen...

Lt. Worthington Alfred Franks was a B-24 navigator assigned to the 345th Bomb Squadron, the 98th Bomb Group, in the 9th Air Force, USAAF, on the B-24D, 42-40102, Old Baldy, shot down over Ploesti, Romania, hit by an AA direct hit from a Rumanian 80 mm cannon shell. Pilot 1st. Lt. John J. Dore and crew were all killed in action in the crash. 10 KIA. MACR 223.



Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (5OLC), PH.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Three airmen of the 389th Bomb Group stand with a B-24 Liberator used as a Flight Assembly Ship. Image via Tim Bivens. Handwritten caption from Bivens: 'My friend remembers it being named "Bucksheesh Benny" that it was used to fly Jack Benny around USA shows. Says it flew in North Africa with Benny and was eventually assigned to 389th as a hack and later as a form-up ship. He thinks it was originally with another group (possibly 376th or 98th).' Handwritten caption on reverse: '389th BG Form-up ship.'

98th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Ninth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

John Joseph Dore

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 11010920 / O-437913
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-40102

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Old Baldy
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 345th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Charlotte, TX 4 November 1919 Son of Vollie Oden Franks and Adelaide [Clayton] Grunnah.

Enlisted

Houston, TX 11 January 1942 Houston, Texas

Died

Ploiești, Romania 1 August 1943 Navigator on B-24 42-40102 'Old Baldy' Lost near the target, Ploesti, AA hit point blank at 30 feet or less from a Rumanian 80 mm. Pilot 1st Lt John J Dore. 10 KIA. MACR 223.
Galveston, TX, USA Galveston, Texas, USA.

Buried

Tablet of the Missing Florence, Provincia di Firenze, Toscana, Italy.

Based

Assigned

Libya 1 August 1943 Assigned to 345BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Buried

Restland Memorial Park, Dallas, Dallas County, TX Memorialised Restland Memorial Park Dallas, Dallas County, Texas

Revisions

Date
ContributorKickapoo
Changes
Sources

Into The fire - Duane Schultz

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

https://www.fold3.com/image/627733149
https://www.fold3.com/record/84777624-worthington-a-franks
https://www.fold3.com/record/529870769-worthington-a-franks
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/181328527/worthington-a_-franks
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/55903192/worthington-alfred-franks

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.findagrave.com

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Sources

http://www.findagrave.com

Worthington Alfred Franks: Gallery (2 items)

Object number: UPL 14213 - B-24D Liberator, 42-40102, Old Baldy, was lost...

Object number: UPL 44017 - B-24D, 42-40102. Old Baldy's nose art. Navigator...