Francis Oliver Porteau

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2nd Lt. Francis O. Proteau was the co-pilot on a bombing mission over Berlin, Germany on March 6, 1944. Shortly after they dropped their bombs, their plane was hit and exploded. They crashed into Lake Glindow, killing 8 of the 10 crew members. Francis and the pilot, Guy Rogers, were the only survivors and were both captured by the Germans. Rogers, who suffered burns and a broken leg, was taken to a hospital. Francis was unhurt and was taken to Stalag Luft I on the Baltic Sea, where he spent the rest of the war.

Francis' father, George, and younger brother, Lawrence, were civilians working for the US Navy on Wake Island during World War II. They were captured by the Japanese and taken to Sasebo prison camp in Japan. They both died there, Lawrence on Mar. 23, 1943 and George a week later on Mar. 30, 1943.