Name:
Francis Edward Akins
Rank:
First Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-818998
Unit:
568th Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1944-09-18
State:
Pennsylvania
Cemetery:
Ardennes American Cemetery, Neuprè, Belgium
Plot:
A
Row:
41
Grave:
35
Decoration:
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart
Comments:
Francis Edward Akins was born on August 11, 1921, in Derry, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Andrew Patrick Akins and Eleanor Schrum Akins. He was the husband of Garnett Lucille Smith Rainey.
Francis served in the 568th Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot on the B-17 #43-38175 “I’ll Be Seeing You” during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 18, 1944, when his aircraft was shot down by German artillery during a mission in Warsaw, Poland. 1Lt Akins is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neuprè, Belgium.