Iaconis Frank

Name:

Frank Iaconis

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

32987202

Unit:

601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy

Date of Death:

1944-11-26

State:

New York

Cemetery:

Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands

Plot:

Walls of the Missing

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal with Oak Leaf Clusters, Purple Heart

Comments:

Frank Iaconis was born on December 23, 1922, in Wolf Summit, Harrison County, West Virginia. He enlisted in the service on July 19, 1943. He served in the 601st Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Radio Operator Gunner of B-17 #42-102565 nicknamed ''The Ugly Duckling'' during World War II.

On November 26, 1944, the aircraft was lost during a bombing mission over Misburg, Germany. While returning to base, the aircraft sustained severe damage from enemy anti-aircraft fire near Zwolle, Netherlands. The impact caused a runaway propeller, forcing the crew to bail out over the IJsselmeer (then known as the Zuiderzee). Tragically, all nine crew members perished, likely due to hypothermia from the frigid waters.

SSgt Iaconis was reported Missing in Action and officially declared dead on November 26, 1944. His name is memorialized in the Walls of the Missing in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands. Frank Iaconis' name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 21, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: b17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org//span>