Frank Edward Valesh
Military
The date, the letters and numbers at the bottom of the accompanying nose-on photo - "97560" and "96GP" confirm this is "Hang The Expense IV" Serial 42-97560, involved in a landing accident at Thorpe Abbotts on 19 May 1944. Pilot Frank E. Valesh. Salvaged 19/5/44.
(Amended 30/6/17) Roger Freeman Collection
Original caption cited a much earlier crash landing into farm buildings but the damage and ground conditions do not match the images of this incident. Amended due to a closer correlation to photo captioned with: "(GAD-37-1-100)(19-5-44)(A/C 7560H-96GP-B-17G)".
Object Number - FRE 903 - B-17G Flying Fortress nicknamed "Hang The Expense IV" of the 100th Bomb Group that overshot the runway at Thorpe Abbotts. The date, the letters and...
Accident on 26 November 1943 unofficial slow-time flight in B-17 42-31035 'Hang the Expense'.
Landed at RAF Eastchurch, Kent with extensive flak damage to the tail upon the return from an operational mission on 24 Jan 1944 in B-17G 42-39867 'Hang the Expense II'. RTD.
He also overshot the runway at Thorpe Abbots in Hang the Expense IV on 19 May 1944
Awards: DFC (2OLC), AM (4OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (3 battle stars).
The 100th BG web site had this to say:
FRANK VALESH, KNOWN TO MOST 100TH VETERANS AS 'BIG FRANK', IS A LARGER THAN LIFE FIGURE IN THE HISTORY OF THE 100TH.
UNIVERSALLY ADMIRED BY THE 100TH, HE WAS ACCORDING TO CAPT BILL CARLETON, 351ST ENGINEER OFFICER AND FRIEND OF VALESH, 'A MAN WHO LIVED EVERY SECOND OF LIFE TO THE FULLEST EXTENT'. OFTEN CALLED THE 100TH'S MOST EXHILARATING PILOT HIS DEATH IN 1984 IS DEEPLY MOURNED BY THE 100TH VETERANS, RECALLING HIM BRINGS WARM MEMORIES.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg.webp?itok=HBB0lqjl)
- 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: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 20921246
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-?
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14158568
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32526655
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 15125048 / O-683829
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hang The Expense
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 351st Bomb Squadron
![A B-17G Flying Fortress (EP-E, serial number 42-39867) of the 351st Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Group. Official caption on image: "265-(44). WPU - 2.29.44. Eastchurch. B-17G - 42-39867. FA-FSAD." Handwritten caption on reverse: '100th Bomb Group, 13th Combat Wing, 3rd Air Division, E?-E.[EP-E]' On reverse: USAAF Photographic Section Station 595 [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-407367.jpg.webp?itok=w_Ml4PfT)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hang the Expense II, Boeing Belle
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron 351st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hang The Expense IV
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Graceville, MN | 15 April 1920 | Son of Frank Morgan and Alice Valesh. |
|
Enlisted |
Minneapolis, MN | 25 March 1942 | Minneapolis, Minnesota |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
10 November 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Star Prairie, WI | 21 May 1984 | |
|
Buried |
Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, MN | 24 May 1984 | Fort Snelling National Cemetery Minneapolis, Hennepin County, Minnesota |
|
Based |
Thorpe Abbotts | Assigned to 351BS, 100BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Losses of 8th & 9th AFs Vol I by Bishop & Hey pp. 388
AccidentReports.com, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
