Lt. Frank Alfred Johnstone

Frank was a member of the United States Army Air Force 721st Bomb Squadron, 450th Bomb Group. He was navigator in World War II aboard a B-24 bomber which was shot down on a mission of more than 600 USAAF B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers and B-24 Liberator heavy bombers that were to bomb marshalling yards in Amstetten, Linz, Villach, and Salzburg, plus the Linz benzol plant and ordinance depot.

His bomber took a direct flak hit in the nose compartment that contained the navigator, bombardier, and nose gunner. He was one of three men who did not parachute to safety. The bodies were recently recovered from a village’s graves that were identified with the tail number of the aircraft. After DNA analysis, they were identified.

He is being returned home to Beaumont to laid to rest next to his parents in a grave that has been reserved for him since 1945 at Forest Lawn Memorial Park.

A full military graveside service will be conducted at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, located at 4955 Pine Street, Beaumont, Texas, 77703. The service is scheduled for February 26, 2026, at 11:00 am. The public is invited to attend.