Beitler, Francis F. (UNKNOWN - 1942): Carl Wayne Gray Genealogies

UNKNOWN - 1942

Name	Beitler, Francis F.
Birth	UNKNOWN	Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma [1]
Birth	Source: https://www.HonorStates/org
Gender	Male
Reference Number	BIET.F001
_FGRAVE	56769603
Military Service	World War II, First Sergeant, Headquarters Squadron, 27th Bomb Group, United States Army Air Forces [2, 3]
	NOTE: The Flora Memorial spells his last name as Bietler, all other records spell it as Beitler Francis served as a First Sergeant, Headquarter's Squadron, 27th Bomber Group, Light, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. He resided in Clay County, Illinois prior to the war. He became a POW of the Japanese Army in the "Fall Of The Philippines" in May, 1942. Francis "Died While A POW" of the Japanese Army at POW Camp 4, O'donnel, Tarlac, Luzon, Philippines 15-120 during the war. He was awarded the Prisoner Of War Medal and the Purple Heart. Service # 6655975 ===== He had enlisted in the Army Air Forces. Served during World War II. He had the rank of First Sergeant. Occupation or specialty was Pilot. Service number was 6655975. Served with 27th Bomber Group, Light, Headquarters Squadron. Beitler experienced a traumatic event which resulted in loss of life on May 21, 1942. Recorded circumstances attributed to: "Died as Prisoner of War under Japanese control". Incident location: Philippines. Some records indicate being held as a prisoner by Japan at a location known as POW Camp 4 O'Donnel Tarlac Luzon Philippines. Francis F Beitler was also associated with Clay county, Illinois, USA. Francis F Beitler is buried or memorialized at Plot A Row 2 Grave 174, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location. Died as Prisoner of War under Japanese control Source: https://www.HonorStates/org Source: https://wwiiregistry.abmc.gov/honoree-plaque/?honoree_id=1899839
		World War II Honoree, Beitler, Francis F. (?-1942)
		World War II Casualties, Clay County Illinois
		Francis F. Beitler (?-1942)
		United States of America Flag, 48 Stars (1912-1959) In 1912, two stars were added to the United States flag, representing Arizona and New Mexico, bringing the total number of stars to 48. They were arranged in six rows of eight stars each. American fighting men would fight under this flag during four wars: World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the beginning of the Vietnam War. (In 1959,…
		Prisoner of War-Missing in Action Flag
		United States Army Air Forces
		United States Army Air Forces
		First Sergeant (1st Sgt), United States Army and United States Army Air Forces (Sep 1942-Aug 1948)
		United States Army Enlisted Rank Insignia
		Military Service Ribbons, Beitler, Francis F. (Unk-1942) Contributed by Carl Wayne Gray
		Purple Heart Medal, United States Military
		Purple Heart Medal, United States Military
		Prisoner of War Medal, United States Armed Forces
		Prisoner of War Medal, United States Armed Forces
		World War II (1939-1945)
		Prisoner of war
		Camp O'Donnell, Tarlac Province, Central Luzon, Philippines
		Brochure, World War II Memorial, Flora, Illinois, Nov 11, 2007 On Veterans' Day, 2005, the city of Flora, Illinois dedicated a memorial to all known Clay County, Illinois World War II Veterans. Located on the south side of the city library, this is a copy of the brochure honoring that event. This 2007 brochure adds a matrix for locating the memorial brick that was laid in honor of each veteran. …
		In Memory of Francis F. Beitler (?-1942)
Death	21 May 1942	POW Camp 4, O'Donnel, Tarlac, Luzon, Philippines [4, 5]
	Cause: Died while a Prisoner of War under Japanese control
	Francis "Died While A POW" of the Japanese Army at POW Camp 4, O'donnel, Tarlac, Luzon, Philippines 15-120 during the war.
		Camp O'Donnell, Tarlac Province, Central Luzon, Philippines
Burial	Manila American Cemetery and Memorial, Manila, Metro Manila, National Capital, Philippines [4]
	A Row 2 Grave 174
		Headstone Inscription and Interment Record, Beitler, Francis F.
		Manila American Cemetery and Memorial
		Burial Flag, United States Military Veterans
Person ID	I43032	Carl Wayne Gray Research
Last Modified	18 Jan 2024

Notes

He resided in Clay County, Illinois prior to the war.

Francis was assigned to Headquarters Squadron, 27th Bomber Group, Light. The Squadron arrived in the Philippines in November 1941. They were awaiting their aircraft which were being shipped to the Philippines when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and the Philippines on December 8th. The ship carrying the planes was diverted to Australia and the Squadron Commander and 20 crews flew to Australia to get their planes.

The rest of the men in the 27th withdrew to the Bataan Peninsula and were formed into the 2nd Battalion, 27th Bomber Group Provisional Infantry Regiment Air Corps This was the only Air Corps unit to fight as an Infantry Regiment. On 09 April 1942 the US and Filipino forces were surrendered to the Japanese. Francis experienced the horrors of the Bataan Death March as he walked to San Fernando and the taken by train to Capas and walked the last bit of the way to Camp O'Donnell.

First Sergeant Francis F. Beitler died 21 May 1942 in the Japanese POW Camp 4, O'donnell, Tarlac Province, Central Luzon, Philippines. He died roughly a month after arriving there.

Sources

[S13351] Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma.
[S14698] https://www.wwiimemorial.com/, World War II Honoree, Francis F. Beitler, (http://www.wwiimemorial.com/Registry/plaque.aspx?honoreeID=1899839) (Reliability: 2).
[S15404] Robert Medley Gatewood, Brochure, Flora, Illinois, World War II Veterans Memorial, page #4, (https://genealogy.carlwgray.com/showmedia.php?mediaID=18791) (Reliability: 2).
[S13352] http://www.findagrave.com, Memorial, Beitler, Francis F., (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56769603), none. (Reliability: 2).
[S14680] https://www.wwiimemorial.com/, National Archives & Records Administration War Department Files, 1SG Francis F. Beitler, (http://www.wwiimemorial.com/Registry/plaque_wardept.aspx?honoreeID=1040593) (Reliability: 2).