Albert A. Francovich
Encyclopedia
Albert A. Francovich was a United States Navy
sailor
who received the Navy Cross
for his actions during World War II
.
, Pennsylvania
. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 8, 1939.
As an aviation
machinist
s mate first class with a patrol squadron
during the Solomon Islands campaign
, Francovich was killed in action in an engagement with a Japan
ese four-engined flying boat
on September 6, 1942.
Francovich posthumously was awarded the Navy Cross
for his great heroism in standing to his gun although mortally wounded.
USS Francovich (DE-379)
was named for Aviation Machinists Mate First Class Francovich during World War II. When the destroyer escorts construction was cancelled in 1944 prior to completion, the name was transferred to the destroyer escort USS Francovich (DE-606), which was then redesignated and constructed as a fast transport, serving in the Navy as such from 1945 to 1946 as USS Francovich (APD-116)
.
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
sailor
Sailor
A sailor, mariner, or seaman is a person who navigates water-borne vessels or assists in their operation, maintenance, or service. The term can apply to professional mariners, military personnel, and recreational sailors as well as a plethora of other uses...
who received the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his actions during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Naval career
Albert Anthony Francovich was born on January 23, 1920 at ShamokinShamokin, Pennsylvania
Shamokin is a city in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, at the western edge of the Anthracite Coal Region. At the 2000 census the population was 8,009 residents...
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 8, 1939.
As an aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
machinist
Machinist
A machinist is a person who uses machine tools to make or modify parts, primarily metal parts, a process known as machining. This is accomplished by using machine tools to cut away excess material much as a woodcarver cuts away excess wood to produce his work. In addition to metal, the parts may...
s mate first class with a patrol squadron
Squadron (aviation)
A squadron in air force, army aviation or naval aviation is mainly a unit comprising a number of military aircraft, usually of the same type, typically with 12 to 24 aircraft, sometimes divided into three or four flights, depending on aircraft type and air force...
during the Solomon Islands campaign
Solomon Islands campaign
The Solomon Islands campaign was a major campaign of the Pacific War of World War II. The campaign began with Japanese landings and occupation of several areas in the British Solomon Islands and Bougainville, in the Territory of New Guinea, during the first six months of 1942...
, Francovich was killed in action in an engagement with a Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese four-engined flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
on September 6, 1942.
Francovich posthumously was awarded the Navy Cross
Navy Cross
The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all...
for his great heroism in standing to his gun although mortally wounded.
Commemoration
The U.S. Navy destroyer escortDestroyer escort
A destroyer escort is the classification for a smaller, lightly armed warship designed to be used to escort convoys of merchant marine ships, primarily of the United States Merchant Marine in World War II. It is employed primarily for anti-submarine warfare, but also provides some protection...
USS Francovich (DE-379)
USS Francovich (DE-379)
The first USS Francovich was a proposed World War II United States Navy that was never completed.The name Francovich was assigned to DE-379 on 31 May 1944...
was named for Aviation Machinists Mate First Class Francovich during World War II. When the destroyer escorts construction was cancelled in 1944 prior to completion, the name was transferred to the destroyer escort USS Francovich (DE-606), which was then redesignated and constructed as a fast transport, serving in the Navy as such from 1945 to 1946 as USS Francovich (APD-116)
USS Francovich (APD-116)
USS Francovich , ex-DE-606, was a United States Navy in commission from 1945 to 1946.-Construction and commissioning:Originally, Francovich was planned to be the Rudderow-class destroyer escort USS Francovich , and was laid down as such on 19 April 1945 by Bethlehem-Hingham Shipyard at Hingham,...
.