Francis Hannaway
July 5, 1925 – November 20, 2022
Francis ‘Doc’ Hannaway passed away on November 20, 2022, at the age of 97. He was at his home in Manhattan Beach, California, surrounded by his family. Francis was born on July 5, 1925, to Anna (nee McGovern) and Francis Hannaway in Lynn, Massachusetts. He attended St. Michael’s High School and graduated while the world was at war. Francis enlisted in the US Army Air Force in 1944 and was trained as a Navigator. He was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1947 and returned to civilian life under the G.I. Bill and attended Tufts University, graduating as a Doctor of Medical Dentistry in 1951.
Doc Hannaway’s years in the service truly made him part of The Greatest Generation. With only primitive analog equipment, he guided B-29 Superfortress Bombers across the globe, flying missions in Europe and Asia. As the Cold War was gripping the world, he was based in Alaska—even though it was not yet a State in the Union. He mapped northern archipelagos, studied Russian and navigated missions over the North Pole. The early fliers who gathered such information about the northernmost part of the world were known as “Pole Jumpers.” Missions were dangerous and complex; navigators had to calculate True North (versus magnetic North) and use landmarks and celestial navigation to find their way. Doc assisted his fellow airmen to locate the Kee Bird, a B-29 that flew off course in disorienting weather and crash-landed.
In 1947, Doc was assigned to a top-secret Air Corps unit in Fairbanks, Alaska. Their mission—which was not declassified until the late 1990’s—was to locate large ice surfaces that could serve as natural airfields for B-29 bombers. In the event of war, a fully armed B-29 could leave from that part of North America and reach Moscow. However, the planes would only have enough fuel for a one-way mission. Doc was honored for his service with The Air Medal and was always a patriot who admired those who served our country. However, he always described himself as, ‘a soldier who hated war.’
Doc’s skills at problem-solving and navigation served him well for the remainder of his life. His decency, curiosity and generosity gave him directional bearings that took him to wonderful destinations. Education was a priority, along with family and amateur competitive golf. Naturally, he met the love of his life, Florence Klejna, on the driving range. They married in 1956 and spent 63 years together, having three children. Florence Hannaway passed away in June of 2019.
Doc Hannaway was devoted to dentistry and golf for over six decades. Late into his 90’s, he could still be found on the practice tee in search of the perfect wedge shot. He spent many happy days at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Massachusetts, where he was Club Champion in the 1960’s, 1970’s, 1980’s, 1990’s and early 2000’s. Moving to California in the last decade of his life, he took up golf at The Vintage Club in Indian Wells, CA. A voracious reader, he served on the board of the Lynn Public Library, a place he traveled to every day with his sisters as a youth. After Fran and his siblings finished every book in the children’s section, they were given privileges to read books from the adult section. His grandchildren all noted that they never saw Grandpa without a book nearby.
Doc had an incomparable Irish wit and a formidable mind that engaged on topics ranging from Patriot’s football to existential philosophy. He is survived by his three children, Paula Crown (and her husband Jim), Patricia, and Sean (and his wife Kathleen). He had six grandchildren, Torie (married to Matt McKinney), Hayley, William Andrew, and Summer Crown, as well as Ella and William Hannaway. He had a great-grandchild, Jackson Crown McKinney. He is also survived by his beloved sister-in-law, Blanche Marquis, as well as many nieces and nephews. Doc was predeceased by his parents and loving sisters and their spouses, Anne Marie and Thomas Carroll and Phyllis and James Parks.
Doc’s lasting message to his family comes from his knowledge as a navigator. He could describe positional orientation by the location of the North Star and Orion’s belt. He reminded us that ‘we are all made of star stuff’ and thus connected.
Funeral services will be private. A memorial in his honor will be planned for later this year. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund at www.ouimet.org.
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