John G. Franken was born November 6, 1918 in Little Rock, IA. He was born as child number 7 of 9 children. He spent most of his life around White and Brookings. He enlisted on October 31, 1941 and was discharged July 16, 1952. He served in the US Army Air Force with the 464th AAF Base Unit. On his death at age 53, he was employed at South Dakota State University as a custodian.
The 464th Bombardment Group (Heavy) was a significant unit of the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. It was constituted on May 19, 1943, and activated on August 1, 1943. The group trained for combat with B-24 bombers and was deployed to the Mediterranean theater, where it served with the Fifteenth Air Force from April 1944 to May 1945. The group was involved in strategic bombardment operations, disrupting German industry and communications, and received numerous Distinguished Unit Citations for their actions. The group's history is documented through various records and honors, reflecting the contributions of its members to the war effort.
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