James Franklin Dement

 October 11, 1920 – July 9, 2018

From the 95th BG Memorials Foundation Facebook page:

With heavy hearts, the Memorials Foundation and the Heritage Association report that Frank Dement of Orlando, FL, left formation on 9 July 2018 at 97 years old. Frank was a 334th mickey operator. Folded wings.

Frank’s obituary reads as follows:

“James Franklin Dement (Frank), age 97, passed away peacefully on Monday, July 9, 2018 at Watercrest Senior Living in Lake Nona, Florida. He was born October 11, 1920 in Piscataway, MD, to William and Viola Dement. He graduated in 1950 from Maryland Catholic University with a degree in electrical engineering. He worked at Martin Marietta (Lockheed Martin) for many years. After he retired from Lockheed, he became a consultant for Litton Laser, and, when he fully retired, he was a volunteer with the Missionary Computer Fellowship. MCF is a group of mostly retirees who refurbished old computers for overseas missionaries and churches, pastors, schools and community centers in the Greater Orlando Area.

“Frank was a part of the Greatest Generation and served in World War II as a navigator/radar bombardment specialist in the 95th Bomb Group flying in a B-17 Flying Fortress. He flew in over thirty missions into Germany. One particular mission, the squadron group leader led over 600 planes in the wrong direction heading towards the most heavily armed part of Germany instead of back to England. Frank insisted to the command pilot that they were flying in the wrong direction and needed to change course. Frank’s plane then pulled out of formation, and soon the rest of the bomber group followed. It is estimated that Frank saved over 4,000 lives that day. Frank received the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal for extraordinary achievement and outstanding record service in the Army Air Corps. He was promoted to Captain James Franklin Dement.

“He is survived by his children, Susan Mitchell (Frank), Sally Shuman (Jeep), David Dement and Lori Daly. He has eight grandchildren, Sam, Lysella, Erin, Katie, Collin, Lizzie, Sarah and Hannah, and four great-grandchildren, Jack, Drew, Ella and Phoebe. He was predeceased by his wife of 61 years, Sarah Blanche Dement. Frank Dement had a Life Well Lived!”