416th Bombardment Group (L) 1st Lt. Francis W. De Mand Pilot, 671st B.S. KIA September 29, 1944 Photo and Document Collection

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Rick Greer, nephew of Francis De Mand (also written by others as DeMand), collected,
digitized and provided to the 416th Archive the following group of photographs and documents.

Click on an image link below to view a larger display.

De Mand family about 1928.
L-R: Martha, Margaret, Evelyn, Francis.
Husband/Father Milton, a country doctor, got sick and died of pneumonia in 1926.


   

Francis W. De Mand - Taking a "selfie" (left), relaxing at home (right)




Francis about 1942 (photo courtesy of Dave Andrews)




"The Wichita Beacon" Newspaper article on 5 Wichita pilots (9-Jul-1943).
Lt. Robert W. Morton - Killed Sep 4, 1943 in a training accident at Lake Charles, LA (AAR 44-9-4-8)
Lt. Arthur Allen McDonald - Killed in a Crash Apr 24, 1944 at AAF-170 Wethersfield RAF Station, England (AAR 44-4-24-513)
Lt. Francis De Mand - Killed in action Sep 29, 1944 (416th BG Mission #149)
over Julich, Germany by Anti-Aircraft (MACR 9274)
Lt. William A. Merchant - Completed 65 missions and returned to U.S., Survived WWII
Lt. Raymond A. Ritter - Transferred to A-20 group the Southwest Pacific, Survived WWII


   

Lt. Francis W. De Mand portraits




Newspaper article describing Francis' service




Francis stepping on an A-20 cockpit window.


   

L-R: S/Sgt. Reuben J. Troyer, Lt. Francis W. De Mand, S/Sgt. Clyde W. Middleton (right photo)
A-20G-35-DO, S/N: 43-9951, 5C-P
"It's Just A Step Over", also named "Uncle Bob"


   

L-R: S/Sgt. Clyde W. Middleton, Lt. Francis W. De Mand, S/Sgt. Reuben J. Troyer (left photo)
A-20G-35-DO, S/N: 43-9951, 5C-P
"Uncle Bob", also named "It's Just A Step Over"


Francis and "Uncle Bob"




Newspaper article describing Francis' service




Lt. Francis W. De Mand portrait


   

Francis boarding an A-20


   

(left) Francis De Mand caption on rear of photo:
"Left to right:
S/Sgt. Clyde W. Middleton - Wichita
Myself - Ha!
S/Sgt. Rueben J. Troyer
These are my boys!"
(right) L-R: S/Sgt. Reuben J. Troyer, S/Sgt. Clyde W. Middleton, Lt. Francis W. De Mand
Sitting on bombs ready to be loaded for a mission.
A-20G-35-DO, S/N: 43-9951, 5C-P
"Uncle Bob", also named "It's Just A Step Over"


   

L-R: S/Sgt. Clyde W. Middleton, Lt. Francis W. De Mand, S/Sgt. Reuben J. Troyer (right photo)
A-20G-35-DO, S/N: 43-9951, 5C-P
"Uncle Bob", also named "It's Just A Step Over"




Annotation on the back: "Nanney & Francis"
L-R: Sgt. Laurence E. Nanney, crew chief and Lt. Francis W. De Mand




L-R: S/Sgt. Reuben J. Troyer, Unknown, S/Sgt. Clyde W. Middleton,
Sgt. Laurence E. Nanney, Unknown


   

"The Wichita Eagle" Newspaper article about Lt. Francis W. De Mand and Lt. William A. Merchant (29-Aug-1944)




Missing In Action Telegram, 20-Oct-1944


       

Condolence Letter from Lt. William A. "Bill" Merchant to Martha De Mand (7-Nov-1944)


   

Missing In Action Letter (17-Nov-1944) and Newspaper article




Presumption of Death Letter, 30-Sep-1945




Newspaper article announcing Presumption of Death


   

Condolence Letter from Major J.T.S. Morris to Martha De Mand (7-Nov-1945)




Memorial shadow box




L-R: Marie-Louise LaHaye and Marilyn Holgerson at Francis' grave.
Marie-Louise LaHaye is a family member of the Dutch family who
adopted the grave of Francis De Mand and Marilyn is Francis' niece.