USAAF
5th AF
348th FG
342nd FS
1944
B Fenstermaker 1991
Pilot Lt.
Wynans Ellis "Flip" Frankfort, O-797812 (Franklin, VA)
MIA April 27, 1944
MACR 6027
Pilot History
Wynans Ellis "Flip" Frankfort
had amassed 400 hours of combat flying, and was credited with 2.5 kills
plus one probably over Cape Gloucester. Previously he bailed out of P-47D 42-22497 and returned to duty. The Ki-43 Oscar he was attacking the day he was lost would have been his third kill.
Lt. Frankfort earned the Silver Star after his P-47's tail was holed while on escort duty over Kavieng on February 14, 1944, several B-25 were shot down, and their crews rescued by PBY piloted by Nate Gordon.
Frankfort went MIA at age 21.
Mission History
Several Japanese aircraft were strafing the American beach head area
of Biak, and were intercepted by P-47's. Frankfort's P-47 went MIA while
chasing a Ki-43 Oscar inland. In 1946 he was presumed
dead, and declared non-recoverable in 1949.
Wreckage
Bruce
Fenstermaker located this wreck on April 19, 1991, doing a search
pattern with villagers from Sauri through Makabo inland from the Bosnek
beachead area. The wreckage was discovered upside down with Frankfort's
remains in the cockpit. The tail stabalizer, with the US Army serial
number clearly visible was discovered by villager Henkie Wackumbem,
of Marcapol village who protected it, and send the site information
to US Army CILHI.
Remains
Returned & Silver
Star Awarded
The remains were
identified and returned to the family and buried back at his hometown
in 1995, to a greatful older brother Philip Frankfort.
Silver Star Award
Frankfort had been recommended for a Silver Star Medal
for his Kavieng escort mission. The medal was approved, but he went
MIA before it was presented and until his 202 file was reviewed by TAPC
after the recovery. No one in his family knew of the recommendation.
His brother was asked to go to Fort Eustis, VA. to receive the Silver Star on behalf of his brother.
References
Thanks to Bruce
Fenstermaker for additional information
P-47
MIA
Resolved
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