November 2, 1923 (Whitefield, NH) – May 16, 1944; 20 years old
Unmarried
Last local address: 16 Putnam Avenue, South Norwalk
Enlisted on December 9, 1942
Service number: 11083285
Born to William H. (1895-1979) and Marguerite E. Kane Frank (1890-1969). Henry was their only son.
Corporal Frank was an aerial gunner, and one of seven airmen killed when B-25C Mitchell #42-32366 crashed, one mile west of Greenville Army Airfield, South Carolina.
From The Norwalk Hour May 17, 1944
Corporal Henry J. Frank, 21, only son of Lieutenant and Mrs. William H. Frank of 16 Putnam Avenue, was one of seven instantly killed yesterday when the B-25 medium bomber crashed about one mile west of the Greenville Army Air Base at Greenville, NC. The plane was on a training flight when the accident occurred according to information issued by the base commanding officer. Corporal Frank was a gunner on the ill-fated plane. Corp Frank graduated from Norwalk High School and attended Norwich University before entering the Army Air Corps on February 21, 1943. He had basic training at Atlantic City. He also took special courses at Michigan State College, and Santa Ana, California. He also graduated from the Armament School at Lowry Field, Colorado. Corporal Frank’s father, a former industrial arts teacher at the Benjamin Franklin Junior High School, served in World War I and reenlisted in World War II. He is a First Lieutenant assigned to Fort Banks at Winthrop, Massachusetts. Upon receiving word of his son’s death, Lieutenant Frank applied for absence and is expected to return to his home on Putnam Avenue today. Mrs. Frank is a substitute teacher in the local school system. Funeral arrangements in charge of A.J. Collins will be announced later.
From Greenville (SC) News, May 17, 1944
Seven occupants of a medium B-25 bomber from the Greenville Army Air Base died when the ship crashed and burned about three-fourths of a mile east of the base yesterday afternoon at about 4:30 it was announced last night by Colonel Oliver H. Stout, commanding officer of the base. Four of the men had wives living in Greenville. Corporal Henry J. Frank, 20, armorer – gunner, South Norwalk, Connecticut.
Corporal Frank is buried at Gethsemane Cemetery, Fielding Way, Athol, Massachusetts; St. Mark Section, Row I, Lot 4. Photo by webmaster.
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