Frank T. Waskowitz
First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Forces

Before entering the military, Frank T. Waskowitz was a student at the University of Washington. He was at Pearl Harbor, HI, during the Japanese sneak attack on 7 December 1941 and was badly burned.

On 29 September 1942, then-First Lieutenant Frank T. Waskowitz was serving as Pilot of B-17E Flying Fortress Bomber (SN 41-2616) nicknamed "The Blue Goose," with the 98th Bombardment Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Thirteenth Air Force, U.S. Army Air Forces, in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations.

On that day, 1LT Waskowitz’s unit was in action against Japanese forces while on a bombing mission near Bougainville, New Guinea. When "The Blue Goose" was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire, one of the bomber's wings came off and the plane crashed into the sea. All members of the crew died in the crash. 1LT Waskowitz’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day earned him, at the cost of his life, the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards and Badges

Distinguished Service Cross
Silver Star Medal
Distinguished Flying Cross
Purple Heart
Air Medal
American Defense Service Medal
American Campaign Medal
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Army Air Force Pilot Badge

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross (Posthumously) to First Lieutenant (Air Corps) Frank T. Waskowitz (ASN: 0-401274), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as an Officer of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 98th Bombardment Squadron, 11th Bombardment Group (H), THIRTEENTH Air Force, while participating in a bombing mission on 29 September 1942, against enemy targets in the Southwest Pacific Theater of Operations. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by First Lieutenant Waskowitz on this occasion, at the cost of his life, have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the 13th Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.

Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in the South Pacific Area, General Orders No. 27 (1943)

Memorialization

The remains of First Lieutenant Frank T. Waskowitz have never been recovered. He is memorialized by having his name inscribed on Court 5 of the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Honolulu County, HI.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56134818/frank-t-waskowitz