Joe was the son of Kasmar and Johanna (Hudson) Franckevitch of Seattle, WA. He had four sisters--Johanna, Liz, Frances, and Mary; and three brothers who also served in the military--Kas, Pete, and Jim.
This photo was taken in 1942.
2nd Lieut. Joseph William Franklin. Seattle Daily Times, May 3, 1943.
Joe's plane was shot down on a bombing mission northwest of Kobe, Japan. His B-29 aircraft was flying in the No. 2 position as deputy leader in the 52d Bombardment Squadron, 29th Bomb Group. According to an eyewitness account in the Missing Air Group Report that I found on Fold3.com, "The airplane commander probably put the airplane in a dive in an attempt to put out the flames . . . approximately 12,000 feet, the wing was torn off. . . "
There were 11 crew members on board: 1st Lt. Joseph W. Franklin (WA), 2nd Lt. Paul H. Stuart (AL), 2nd Lt. Ralph J. Massaro (CA), 2nd Lt. Stephen F. Wenczel (NJ), F/O Frank A. Urso (IL), S/Sgt John R. Vincent (TX), S/Sgt Bryan McKown, Jr. (OH) S/Sgt George C. Peare (NJ), S/Sgt Henry F. Pleasants, Jr. (NC), Sgt. Robert I. Ellis (PA), and Sgt. Lavone L. Nix (SC).
Joe was honored with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, and Purple Heart.
At the time of his death, he was married and had a 2-year old daughter; a son was born two weeks later. Joe's final resting place is in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, HI.
JOSEPH W. FRANKLIN
WASHINGTON
CAPTAIN 29 AAF BOMB GROUP
WORLD WAR II
MAY 5 1920 JUNE 5 1945
- - - - - - - - - - -
I organize all the veterans' gravestones that I photograph and upload to FindAGrave.com by creating "virtual cemeteries" for each conflict. The following men were either reported missing or killed in action during World War II.
Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ
BAIRD
1884 CORA M.. 1927
1884 DAVID L. 1965
1913 DAVID H. 1944
MISSING IN ACTION U.S.N. W.W. II
Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ
STILWELL
CPL. JOHN V. STILWELL, U.S.M.C.
KILLED IN ACTION SEPT. 23, 1944
AGE 23
PELELIU ISLAND, PALAU
Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ
LT. ROBERT HULBERT JR.
868 BOMBING SQUADRON
13TH AIR FORCE
MISSING IN ACTION JUNE 20, 1945
AGE 21
Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ
RICKEY
ROBERT D RICKEY A.M.M. 3/C
BORN MAY 10, 1918
DIED MAY 10, 1943
IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY
AT ADAK, ALASKA
Hanover Cemetery, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ
IN MEMORY OF OUR BELOVED SON
WERNER J. HOLLY
PRIVATE U.S. ARMY
1922 1944
KILLED IN ACTION IN THE SERVICE OF HIS COUNTRY
BURIED IN LUXEMBURG
First Presbyterian Church of Hanover, E. Hanover, Morris, NJ
FREDERICK WALTER HOPPING
KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE
CORPORAL 1ST BN. 116TH INF. 29TH DIV.
FEB. 8, 1907 JUNE 6, 1944
Albany Rural Cemetery, Menands, Albany, NY
IN LOVING MEMORY OF PFC. WILLIAM JOHN WALKER, JR.
BORN APRIL 18, 1925 KILLED IN ACTION MARCH 18, 1945
BURIED IN AMERICAN CEMETERY AT HAMM. LUXEMBOURG
LET US NOT FORGET
LET US NOT FORGET
__________
Copyright 2014, Barbara Schaffer
What a touching tribute.
ReplyDeleteMy uncle Henry Segade was at Normandy, and came home with PTSD. he was institutionalized the rest of his life. He died severel years ago and is buried in Monroe, WA. You have given me the idea to make him a tribute quilt.
I just recently found your blog and find it quite interesting.
I love our veterans! Great post!
ReplyDeleteI am Joseph's grand daughter, Kerrigan, daughter of Susan, the child who recalls when men in uniforms came to their door with papers and her mother tumbled in grief to the floor, swollen and painfully awaiting the birth of my uncle, Mike.
ReplyDeleteAs I read your written history, the tears can't help but flow. My grandmother and mother both carried and carry, respectively, the scars of the devastating loss of the young man who was by all accounts a musically gifted, kind, precociously bright, and immensely loving father, husband, son, sibling, and friend.
In a mere 25yrs, Joe was a man who touched lives so deeply his spirit continues to live on. Mom proudly displays his Purple Heart, wings, and other Service awards in shadow boxes in her living room.
Following grandma Doris' passing I discovered amongst her belongings a worn metal bracelet, it's original gold tone rubbed away here and there but the name engraved on the front above a finely detailed ornament of two airplane propellers gleamed in the sun: JOSEPH W. FRANKLIN.
It is currently in the zippered pocket of my purse.
"Gone but not forgotten."
Thank you so very much for this post and all the hard work you for remaining family members.
Kerrigan, I was all teary-eyed reading your comment. Thank you. I would have responded via email but there was no address so I hope you see this message. Though I only met your Grandma Doris once she always remembered us at Christmastime with a card and hand-written note. Your mom and I continue to stay in touch :)
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