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WIENER NEUSTADT, Austria -- Lewistown Airman Frank D. Weldon was killed in action on Nov. 2, 1943 when the bomber he piloted crashed during a high-altitude mission over Wiener Neustadt, Austria. Weldon and his nine crewmates took off from Hergla, Tunisia aboard "Hell's Belles," B-24D Liberator No. 42-41183, to bombard a Messerschmitt aircraft factory. Weldon and two other crew members perished in the crash. The remaining seven were able to evacuate the aircraft and survived to return to duty.
Weldon trained to pilot the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber for the 415th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy). He was deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations in 1942 and supported the westward advance by Britain's Eighth Army to rid the Germans from Egypt, Libya and Tunisia. His Liberator bombed and strafed German and Italian land targets, airfields, railroad lines, shipping and harbors in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, Crete and Greece.
The 98th Bomb Group trained on B-24 Liberators during the first half of 1942 at McDill and Barksdale Air Force bases in Louisiana. The 415th squadron was established as a Reconnaissance Squadron that year and conducted antisubmarine patrols over the Gulf of Mexico. Later, it was redesignated as a Heavy Bombardment Squadron and was deployed to Egypt from Morrison Field, Florida. The squadron transited over the South Atlantic Transport Route via Brazil, Liberia and Sudan.
Frank D. Weldon was born on July 29, 1918 in Brunswick, Canada to his namesake father and Bertha M. Zeigler Weldon. His father and mother were natives of New York and Pennsylvania, respectively. Weldon had one older sister, Isabel, and one younger sister, Esther. Their father supported the household as a medical doctor while the family lived in Canada. After moving to Lewistown, he was employed by the rayon mill. Weldon's mother was a homemaker. Weldon enlisted in the Army Air Forces on Aug. 24, 1938. He was selected for aviation school, received his officer commission, and became a qualified pilot for the B-24 Liberator heavy bomber.
2LT Weldon's remains were recovered and eventually were repatriated to the United States. His final resting place is in Rolling Green Memorial Park, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.
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Stories Behind the Stars memorials are accessible for free on the internet and via smart phone app at gravesites and cenotaphs. The non-profit organization is dedicated to honoring all 421,000 fallen Americans from World War II, including 31,000 from Pennsylvania. To volunteer or for more information, contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org or visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org.