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Contact Info
Home Town Bangor, Maine
Last Address York, Maine
Date of Passing Jan 06, 1994
Location of Interment Maine Veterans Memorial Cemetery - Augusta, Maine
Wall/Plot Coordinates SECTION M ROW 12 SITE 20
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
He was the pilot of one of 12 B-17s which arrived over Oahu on a flight from the U.S. on Dec 7, 1941. With no ammunition on board, he could do little more than to try to escape, so he played tag with Japanese fighters before he was finally able to land safely on a golf course. On Mar 17, 1942, he piloted the B-17 that flew General Douglas MacArthur out of the Philippine Islands.
Synopsis of his DSC citation: Awarded for actions during World War II
(Citation Needed) - SYNOPSIS: Captain (Air Corps) Frank P. Bostrom, United States Army Air Forces, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving as Pilot of a B-17 Heavy Bomber in the 40th Reconnaissance Squadron, 19th Bombardment Group (H), FAR EAST Air Force, while participating in bombing missions during the period 10 through 14 April 1942, in action against enemy Japanese forces in the Philippine islands. Captain Bostrom participated in a daring 4-day mission under the command of Brigadier General Ralph Royce, who led a flight of seven B-25Cs and three B-17s from Australia to a staging field at Del Monte on Mindanao in the Philippine Islands. Over the following two days the B-25's and B-17's attacked the many ships and the docks at Cebu, the air and harbor facilities at Davao, and Nichols Field on Luzon. The B-25 Mitchell's were involved in over twenty sorties. They sank one Japanese transport and possibly two others. They also shot down three Japanese aircraft. All but one of the aircraft returned to Australia without the loss of a single flyer, and they brought out a number of important military and diplomatic personnel who had gathered at Del Monte to await evacuation. The personal courage and zealous devotion to duty displayed by Captain Bostrom during this period have upheld the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, the Far East Air Force, and the United States Army Air Forces.
General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Army Forces in Australia, General Orders No. 39 (1942)
Aircraft/Missile Information
C-54s began service with the Army Air Forces in 1942, carrying up to 26 passengers. (Later versions carried up to 50 passengers.) The U.S. Navy also acquired the type, under the designation R5D. The C-54 was one of the most commonly used long-range transports by the U.S. armed forces in World War II. 515 C-54s were manufactured in Santa Monica, CA and 655 were manufactured in Chicago, Illinois.
After World War II, the C-54 continued to serve as the primary airlifter of the new United States Air Force and with the United States Navy.
The USAF Strategic Air Command had C-54 Skymasters in service from 1946 through 1975.
Model Douglas C-54A (R5D-1) Skymaster Length 93.83 ft | 28.60 m Width 117.49 ft | 35.81 m Height 27.49 ft | 8.38 m Engine(s) 4 x Pratt & Whitney E-2000-7 Twin Wasp radial engines generating 1,290hp each. Empty Weight 37,000 lbs | 16,783 kg MTOW 62,005 lbs | 28,125 kg Max Speed 265 mph | 426 km/h | 230 kts Max Range 3,899 miles | 6,275 km Ceiling 21,982 ft | 6,700 m | 4.2 miles Climb Rate Not Available Hardpoints 0 Armament None. Accommodations 6 + 86 Operators the United States of America
