| Last Name: |
| Andersen (a.k.a. Jacobson) |
|
Picture
|
| First Name: |
|
| Nickname: |
|
| Born/Died |
|
| Hometown: |
|
| Squadron: |
|
| Position: |
|
| Victories |
|
| Decorations: |
| Bronze Star, Chinese Air Service Medal,
Presidential Unit Citation Medal |
|
| Pre AVG: |
| Frank joined the Army Air Corps and
graduated from Aircraft Mechanics School in 1939. As a
mechanic, he was stationed at Selfridge Field, Michigan with the
94th Hat in the Ring Squadron, made famous by Capt. Eddie
Rickenbacker in WWI. |
|
| AVG Service: |
|
As aircraft mechanics in the AVG, we had to be innovative and
resourceful to keep those P-40s flying. "We made good
with very little supplies for aircraft maintenance. We did
what we had to do." Frank was recruited for the
AVG at Selfridge field and sailed for Rangoon, Burma on July 10,
1941 aboard the Jaegersfontein.
|
|
| Post AVG, WWII: |
| Frank put his aircraft mechanic skills to good use
for the remainder of the war at Grumman's Eastern Aircraft
Division. He was in good company with other AVG veterans at
Grumman such as Michael Callen. "Chick Curran", Frank
Metasavage, A.W. Fritzke, George Brice and George Tyrell. |
|
| Post War Career: |
After the war, Frank began a career with Texaco Oil
Company as a machinist, Building Trades Supervisor and Inspector
Dept. Technician. With wife, Audrey, they raised their
son Alan. Frank retired from Texaco with 32 years of
service.
What do you want remembered about the AVG? "We
prevented the (Japanese) invasion of China from the west and
deterred any Jap push toward India. Also, while the AVG
defended Rangoon from the air, the British ground troops absconded
up into Burma taking loads of armored equipment with them but
otherwise abandoning scads of military equipment on the docks of
Rangoon." |
|