The start of a life of service
DeFrancesco reflected upon the war years recently during a visit at his Marion County home.
DeFrancesco was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on Jan. 29, 1924. His father, a World War I veteran, worked in the copper tubing industry.
As a youth, DeFrancesco was fascinated by early helicopter prototypes he saw on test flights from the Sikorsky Aircraft company, located near his home. He built and flew model airplanes.
DeFrancesco joined the Army Air Corps in 1942 just after graduation from high school. His first flight was in an Aeronca, a small single-engine plane. The Aeronca was fun; it sort of floated, said DeFrancesco.
Memorial Day weekend spurs Savannahians to reflect on the sacrifice made my members of the military unit formed in Savannah at the dawn of World War II
This year is the 25th anniversary of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler. That is but one of the many reasons the organization, along with other Savannah-area veteran’s groups, is honoring service members who paid the ultimate sacrifice in a number of commemorations and ceremonies slated for Memorial Day weekend.