Frank Emerson Birtciel
Military
Object Number - UPL 24283 - Capt Frank E Birtciel 343FS, 55FG, 8AF.
Assigned to 343FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. 121 x missions over 2 x tours. Credited 1 x shared and 1 x damaged [Air], 5 x destroyed and 1 x damaged [Ground]. Bailed out safely near Bruges from P-51D 44-15701 3-Apr-45 returned to duty (RTD). Completed Tour of Duty (ETD). Transferred to 70th Replacement Depot Apr-45.
Awards: DFC, AM (8 OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, UN and Korean medal.
Post war: Remained in USAF until 1969, serving in Korea and Vietnam and rising to the rank of Lt Colonel.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Supply
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 3rd Scouting Force 55th Fighter Group 343rd Fighter Squadron 354th Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6997339
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Crew Chief
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 343rd Fighter Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36345967
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Crew chief
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-38 Lightning
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 343rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Miss Velma Merrimack
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 343rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Miss Velma
- Unit: 55th Fighter Group 343rd Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Lillian Delivery Boy The Millie G
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 55th Fighter Group 343rd Fighter Squadron 486th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Military site
- Known as: Jefferson Hall
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bures / RAF Wormingford / RFC Wormingford / USAAF Station 159 / Wormingford Landing Ground
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Drumright, OK 74030, USA | 7 July 1923 | Son of John and Beulah Birtciel. |
|
Enlisted |
Fort Riley, KS, USA | 7 January 1942 | Fort Riley Kansas USA |
|
Other Baled out |
Bruges, Belgium | 3 April 1945 | Baled out safely near Bruges from P-51D 44-15701 3-Apr-45 returned to duty (RTD). |
|
Died |
Phoenix, AZ, USA | 21 October 2015 | |
|
Other End Tour of Duty (ETD) |
England, UK | Completed Tour of Duty (ETD). | |
|
Other Promotion |
Wormingford, Colchester CO6, UK | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. | |
|
Other Promotion |
Wormingford, Colchester CO6, UK | Promoted to Captain. | |
|
Based |
Wormingford | Assigned to 343FS, 55FG, 8AF USAAF. | |
| Sylvia, KS 67581, USA | |||
|
Buried |
Phoenix, AZ, USA | National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona Phoenix Maricopa County Arizona USA | |
|
Other Transferred |
Stone ST15, UK | Transferred to 70th Replacement Depot. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list
