 |
416th Bombardment Group (L) Bronze Memorial Plaques
|
 |
Return to Table of Contents
Frank Basford
Holding a 13" x 13" 416th Bomb Group Bronze Memorial Plaque
One of the Nine 416th BG Memorial Plaques cast, Seven in 1993 and Two in 2012
Around April of 1992, former 669th Bomb Squadron Gunner SSgt Franklin P. "Frank" Basford began
"initiating a drive with the active 416th members to have several bronze plaques made and dedicated at several designated sites."
During the 416th Bomb Group Reunion held at Orange Beach, Alabama, May 29-31, 1992, Frank presented his
ideas and plans to the Group and gained their approval.
Frank continued his research and in October, 1992 Frank mailed the following letter to 540 of the 416th Bomb Group
personnel and families asking "WHERE'S OUR MEMORIAL?", along with his Memorial Plaque ideas and initial request for donations.
Over the course of the next year, Frank tirelessly pursued his dream of designing, financing, coordinating and placing seven
416th Bomb Group Bronze Memorial Plaques throughout the United States and England, a project he termed "Our 286th Mission".
In today's age of ubiquitous Internet, nearly instant digital email communication, home computers and cell phones;
many may find it difficult to comprehend that in the early 1990's very few people had access to these now every-day
technologies and virtually all communication between 416th members and families was via hand-written or hand-typed letters
mailed in hand-addressed envelopes through the U.S. Postal Service and/or discussions via long-distance phone calls.
Frank's notes show that in 1993, stamps cost $0.29, B&W photo copies were $0.36 and long-distance phone calls were around
$0.15 per minute; making even communication costs quite high, not to mention the amount of time and effort spent.
Just to copy and mail Franks' 4 page "Where's Our Memorial" letter to 540 individuals cost $288.90.
Frank was the driving force making the 416th Memorial Plaque "286th Mission" project a resounding success with his
considerable efforts in designing/re-designing and blue-printing the plaques, coordinating with all of the organizations
that manage the install locations, requesting cost estimates from plaque manufacturing companies, communicating and
negotiating with Feather's Plaques & Signs who cast the 416th Bronze Memorial Plaques, managing financial matters,
and of course, working with all the 416th Veterans and Families. Not only did Frank invest significant time and effort,
he also expended considerable personal expenses.
Providing much appreciated assistance to Frank in the Memorial Plaque project were the following 416th members:
Claude Brown - CPT, Pilot, 671st BS
Walter Buckley - 671st BS
Noel Clark - MSGT, Maintenance Flight Chief, 670th BS
Gordon Doule - CPT, Armament Officer, 668th BS
Wayne Downing - 1LT, Pilot, 668th and 670th BS
Royal Everts - SSGT, Crew Chief, 670th BS
Judge Robert E. Lee, Jr. - SSGT, Gunner, 670th BS
Bob Price - Armament, 668th BS
Dolphus Whitten, Jr. - 1LT, Adjutant, 669th BS & HQ
Three variations of the 416th Bomb Group Bronze Memorial Plaques were designed and cast:
Variation No. 1, Size: 12" x 10" 1 plaque cast in 1993 National Museum of the USAF |
Variation No. 2, Size: 13" x 13" 5 plaques cast in 1993, 2 cast 2012 USAF Academy Giles County Courthouse Annex March Field Air Museum Wethersfield Airfield Chapel EAA Aviation Museum New England Air Museum 416th Bomb Group Archive |
Variation No. 3, Size: 18" x 14" 1 plaque cast in 1993 Arlington National Cemetery |
Arlington National Cemetery
Arlington, VA 22211
Section 48, Grave 58
Website: https://www.arlingtoncemetery.mil/
Plaque Variation No. 3, Size: 18" x 14"
Plaque Installed: between April and September 1993
Tree: Kwanzan Cherry Tree, planted Spring, 1994
416th BG Memorial Plaque at Arlington National Cemetery
(Photo courtesy Ross Stewart, September 15, 2017)
Frank personally selected the site at Arlington National Cemetery and coordinated all design and installation efforts
with the Superintendent of Arlington Cemetery and the memorial company who performed the installation.
Site Section 48, Grave 58 is one of the most visible spots in the Cemetery, off Roosevelt Drive along the path
to the Memorial Amphitheater and Tomb of the Unknown.
The Plaque is mounted on a Granite stone base and a Kwanzan Cherry Tree was planted behind the Plaque.
Route from Welcome Center to 416th Memorial (left); Memorial location (right)
(Arlington National Cemetery "ANC Explorer" Interactive map
Click "Memorial Trees" and Search for 416th)
United States Air Force Academy Cemetery Memorial Wall
US Air Force Academy, CO 80840
near Colorado Springs
Website: http://www.usafa.af.mil/
Plaque Variation No. 2, Size: 13" x 13"
Plaque Installed: 16 April 1993
Frank corresponded with the Chief, Gifts and Memorials Division at the USAF Academy requesting approval
to include a 416th BG Bronze Memorial Plaque on the Cemetery Memorial Wall and Noel Clark (former MSGT, Maintenance Flight Chief, 670th BS),
personally visited the USAF Academy on behalf of the 416th Bomb Group.
Approval was granted and the very first of the Plaques that were cast in 1993 was received by the USAF Academy on 6 March, 1993.
Wayne Downing (former 1LT, Pilot, 668th and 670th BS) pointing to 416th BG Memorial Plaque installed on the USAF Academy Cemetery Memorial Wall.
Roland Dullnig (former TSGT, Crew Chief, 668th BS) is in the background.
Photo was taken during the August 18-22, 2004 416th BG Reunion at Colorado Springs, CO.
(Photo courtesy of the Family of Wayne Downing)
Giles County Courthouse Annex
222 W. Madison St.
Pulaski, TN 38478
Plaque Variation No. 2, Size: 13" x 13"
Plaque Installed: June 1993
Judge Robert E. Lee, Jr. (former SSGT, Gunner, 670th BS) presided at Giles County Courthouse,
and paid for this Plaque and it's intallation personally.
Judge Lee brought the Plaque to the County Executive Janet Vanzant.
The Plaque is mounted on a beautiful wooden base and proudly included as part of the
Veterans Memorial Wall Display on the Second floor of the Giles County Courthouse Annex.
Giles County Courthouse Annex 416th BG Memorial Plaque (left) and Veterans Memorial Wall Display (right)
(Photos courtesy Carol Wade, Giles County Clerk, August 10, 2018)
March Field Air Museum
March Air Reserve Base
Riverside County, CA 92518
March Field Air Museum Website: https://www.marchfield.org/
March Air Reserve Base Website: http://www.march.afrc.af.mil/
Plaque Variation No. 2, Size: 13" x 13"
Plaque Mailed: June 1993
Wayne Downing (former 1LT, Pilot, 668th and 670th BS) coordinated with March Field Air Museum to get this
Plaque installed on a three foot high White Sierra Granite Pedestal in front of their A-26 Invader aircraft.
Plaque at March Field Air Museum mounted on top of a White Sierra Granite Pedestal
(Photo courtesy Wayne Downing, June, 2011)
A-26C-30 "Invader", s/n 44-35224 display
Red arrows point to 416th BG Bronze Memorial Plaque Pedestal
(Photos courtesy Wayne Downing (left), George Grasse (right))
Wethersfield Airfield Chapel
RAF Wethersfield, England
RAF Wethersfield Facebook Website: https://www.facebook.com/groups/56981237530/
Plaque Variation No. 2, Size: 13" x 13"
Plaque Delivered: 13 September 1993
Over a period of several years, Frank communicated, coordinated and planned with
Ian MacTaggart, Neil Martin and Malcom Flatman at RAF Wethersfield
for approval and installation of the Wethersfield Plaque.
Royal Everts (former SSGT, Crew Chief, 670th BS) traveled to England and hand delivered this Plaque to the Ministery of Defense (MOD) Police.
The MOD Police has been the primary occupier of RAF Wethersfield since 1992,
and graciously assisted in the installation of the 416th Plaque on the Chapel Courtyard Wall in 1993.
We are very fortunate that until recently, the MOD Police were onsite at RAF Wethersfield
to secure, preserve and protect the Plaque as well as the history and memories of the
416th Bomb Group, 20th Tactical Fighter Wing, "Red Horse" 819th Engineers and other groups based at RAF Wethersfield.
Due to the closing and uncertain future of RAF Wethersfield and for safe keeping until a new permanent home is available,
these three memorial plaques were removed by the Ministry of Defense in June, 2023, temporarily transferred
to the U.S. Embassy - London and subsequently transferred to Colin West, a member of the Wethersfield Parish Council, in October, 2023.
See the Wethersfield Memorial Plaque update given by Steve Roy at the 2023 Colorado Springs, CO Reunion.
Plaque at RAF Wethersfield, May 7, 2018 (left) and Wethersfield Airfield Chapel and Courtyard Wall (right)
Red arrow points to 416th BG Bronze Memorial Plaque
(Photos courtesy Steven Roy (left) and Ross Stewart (right))
SSGT Royal Everts and MDP Malcom Flatman. The delivery of the plaque.
(Photo courtesy Ian McTaggart Collection)
POW and MIA Memorial Plaque at RAF Wethersfield
(Photo courtesy Steven Roy, May 7, 2018)
Tree of Remembrance - POW's and MIA's Memorial Plaque at RAF Wethersfield
(Photo courtesy Ross Stewart)
This 3rd plaque was by a tree planted in a raised bed in the chapel memorial courtyard.
It was placed by Col Charles Rogers, Lt Col George Morgan Jr. and Chaplain Major Robert J. Tripp, 19-July-1985
National Museum of the United States Air Force Memorial Garden
Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433
near Dayton
Memorial Site #225
Website: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
Plaque Variation No. 1, Size: 12" x 10"
Plaque Installed: November 1993
Claude Brown (former CPT, Pilot, 671st BS) personally visited the Museum and assisted in coordinating the selection of the Memorial site and installation of the Plaque on its granite base.
A Memorial Ash Tree was also planted when this Plaque was installed.
This plaque is also listed in the Historical Marker Database (HMdb.org) (PDF).
416th BG Memorial Plaque and Memorial Ash Tree as of August 12, 2018
(Photos courtesy Nora and Bernie Marino)
Map showing location of the 416th BG Memorial Plaque in the Memorial Garden
(Map courtesy HMdb.org Interactive Map)
The 671st Bomb Squadron also installed a Bronze Memorial Plaque commemorating their Squadron at the National Museum of the USAF Memorial Garden.
The 671st BS members dedicated their Plaque during their Squadron Reunion, September 16-19, 1993.
The 671st Plaque and Memorial Blue Spruce Tree are at Memorial Site # 268 and is listed in the Historical Marker Database (HMdb.org) (PDF)
671st BS Memorial Plaque and Memorial Blue Spruce Tree as of August 12, 2018
(Photos courtesy Nora and Bernie Marino)
Map showing location of the 671st BS Memorial Plaque in the Memorial Garden
(Map courtesy HMdb.org Interactive Map)
HMdb.org also provides an Interactive Map of all Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio Historical Markers.
Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Aviation Museum
3000 Poberezny Road
Oshkosh, WI 54902
Website: https://www.eaa.org/eaa-museum
Plaque Variation No. 2, Size: 13" x 13"
Plaque Dedicated: 6 June 1994
This Plaque was dedicated on 6 June 1994, the 50th Anniversary of D-Day, during the 416th BG Reunion held in Oshkosh, WI.
Dolph Whitten (former 1LT, Adjutant, 669th BS & HQ) organized the Reunion and Gordon Doule assisted in coordinating the
installation and dedication of the Plaque at the EAA Museum.
Per Ron Twellman, President/Collections Chair, Military Veterans Museum & Education Center
(formerly Collections Manager, EAA Aviation Museum), the 416th BG Plaque was offered to the museum as a donation by Gordon Doule,
a member of the 416th. However, the EAA Aviation Museum policy did not accept donations with restrictions which would include
requirements for permanent display, but they did take the Plaque on loan and display it inside a case in their WWII Eagle Hangar
for a year. It was then returned to Mr. Doule.
Since Ron retired from EAA, he has been an active volunteer with the Military Veterans Museum & Education Center also located in Oshkosh, WI.
One of his main tasks has been to organize their nearly thirty-year collection of veteran-related items. During that work he
recalls seeing the plaque stored in the Military Veterans Museum & Education Center collection, but does not know if it came
from Mr. Doule himself or from his estate.
At the present, the 416th BG Plaque is no longer on display at either the EAA Aviation Museum or the Military Veterans Museum & Education Center.
The Oshkosh Northwestern, 04 Jun 1994, Sat, Page 9
(Courtesy Newspapers.com)
New England Air Museum
36 Perimeter Rd.
Windsor Locks, CT 06096
Website: http://www.neam.org/
Plaque Variation No. 2, Size: 13" x 13"
Plaque Presented to 416th BG: 6 October 2012
Carl Sgamboti, upon receiving Frank Basford's 416th BG document collection in early 2012,
commissioned the eighth Plaque be cast and had it installed in the 416th BG Memorial Exhibit at NEAM.
This Plaque is proudly displayed in front of "Reida Rae", Douglas A-26C "Invader", s/n 43-22499
(Photo from NEAM)
416th Bomb Group Archive Wall of Honor
52 Fourth Street
Gainesville, MO 65655
Plaque Variation No. 2, Size: 13" x 13"
Plaque Presented to 416th BG: 6 October 2012
In 2012, Wayne Sayles commissioned Feather's Plaques & Awards to cast the ninth 416th BG Bronze Memorial Plaque
and mounted it as the centerpiece of the Wall of Honor located on the veranda of the
416th Bomb Group Archive in Gainesville, MO.
Second Plaque cast in 2012, mounted on the Wall of Honor 416th Bomb Group Archive
(Photos courtesy Jean Sittarich, October 8, 2017 (left) and Wayne Sayles (right))
This plaque is also listed in the Historical Marker Database (PDF)
416th Memorial Plaque Canvas Wall Hanging
12 x 12 inch photo on canvas, mounted on wood frame with hanger attached.
Wayne Sayles has produced 416th Memorial Plaque Canvas Wall Hangings with a 12 x 12 inch photo of Plaque Variation No. 2.
These are available for sale through the 416th BG Archive Store.
416th Memorial Plaque Canvas Wall Hanging
(Photos courtesy 416th BG Archive Store)