2LT Francis Xavier Glacken (1920-1945) - Find A Grave Memorial

Pilot (right seat): O-771694Francis Xavier Glacken 2Lt MA

Assigned to 20th Air Force, XXI Bomber Command, 73rd Bomb Wing, 500th Bombardment Group (VH), 881st Bomber Squadron stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.

MACR 14488

During the night of 23-24 May 1945, he flew as a Pilot aboard a Boeing B-29-20-BA Superfortress, Tail Code: Z-Square-7 (serial #42-63486).

It was one of 520 aircraft launched in multi-wing group formations to bombard the urban-industrial area south of the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Japan. After bombs away, the plane’s right wing was set afire by flak from anti-aircraft artillery. While departing the target area, the plane was hit with flak in the rear fuselage that destroyed all the flight controls including the intercom. During aircrew bail-out, the plane exploded in mid-air and fell into Tokyo Bay. He was declared KIA on 24 May 1945.

Francis X Glacken