FRANK WOODROW O'FLAHERTY was born 26 Feb 1918 in Tonopah, Nye, Nevada. He was the youngest child of seven born to Michael John and Carrie Etta Marie Cuddy O'Flaherty. They married on 30 April 1903 in Sterling, Logan, CO. Frank's siblings were; William J. "Willie" (1904-1917); Paul S. (1906-1983); Roy Joseph (1910-1912); James Matthew (1912-1983); Lavada (1913-1978); and Catherine Joan (1915-2004). Michael was a machinist who worked for several mining companies and a power company in Nevada. Carrie was a homemaker. Between 1910 and 1918 a number of tragedies swept through the family that would have life-long consequences to all.

Not long after the birth of her son, Roy Joseph in Nov.1910, Carrie's eldest child, 6 yr old Willie, picked up a long, copper colored cap in his hand and held a lighted match to it. Someone had told him that it would go off like a firecracker. So he thought he would see for himself. The explosion tore off the end of his left thumb, injured his fore finger such that a "slight" amputation was necessary. His second finger was also injured. Pieces of the copper shell lodged in his body. Standing nearby, his mother and brother Paul were also injured. She was struck in the neck by a piece of the shell. Fortunately, there were no fatal injuries.

The following summer Carrie's third child, sixteen month old Roy Joseph, choked to death. The official cause of death was edema of the larynx. Five years later, on 17 July 1917, 13 year old Willie and two friends went swimming in the summer heat at a local irrigation pond. Willie went into the water and stepped in a deep hole and sank. When he came to the surface he called to his friends that he was drowning. The boys ran for help, but when they returned it was too late. His death touched the community such that they donated $3000 (that's a significant amount of money in 1917.) to build a new swimming pool and bath house so the children would have a safe place to swim.

In late November of the following year (1918), Carrie and two children became ill with the Spanish Flu. On 01 Dec 1918, she wrote to a friend that she was feeling better, but was concerned about the children. Carrie suddenly relapsed and died the next day. She left five children; three boys and two girls. The youngest at nine months old was Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty. The oldest was Paul, 12 years old.

After his wife Carrie died in Dec 1918, Michael dissolved the family sending the five remaining children to relatives who agreed to help out. After that the children would not live together as a family unit again. In 1920, Carrie's sister, Katie Cuddy Lamb, cared for three of the youngest children, Lavada, Catherine and Frank O'Flaherty in her home in Gallatin, MO. Her mother, Carrie Cuddy, also came to help care for the children. Katie was married to Orange Scott Lamb, and they had two children of their own at the time; Virginia and Katherine. By 1925, the Lambs had moved to Bonner Springs, Kansas where they continued to care for Frank O'Flaherty with the help of his grandmother, Carrie Cuddy, who died there in 1927. Catherine and Lavada O'Flaherty lived with their uncle, Frank O'Flaherty in Wabasha, MN. Young Frank would remain with the Lamb family until he enlisted in the US Navy in Sept 1940.

In January 1920, Frank's two brothers, Paul and James, went to live with another aunt, Estella Cuddy Schlegel in Lincoln, Nebraska. By 1930, James and Paul had jobs in Wabasha, MN and each lived as a lodger with separate families. Their uncle, Frank O'Flaherty and his wife lived in Wabasha too. Catherine was in Rochester, MN working as a waitress in 1940. Lavada was a student nurse at St. Joseph Hospital, St. Paul, Ramsey, MN in 1934. She became a nurse and remained in St Paul until she enlisted in the Navy Nurse Corps in Nov 1942. The Lambs raised Frank as their own son with their two daughters. In honor of Frank after his death, his aunt Katie had a cenotaph placed in the cemetery in which she was also buried; Mount Moriah Cemetery, Kansas City, Jackson, MO. Also inscribed on his cenotaph is the name of her one and only son, baby Joe Lamb, born in 1903 and who died in 1904.

Frank W. O'Flaherty graduated from Bonner Springs High School in June 1936 (On 15 January 2016 Frank was inducted into the Bonner HS Hall of Fame). Later that summer, he enrolled in the Junior College in Kansas City from which he graduated in 1938. He then enrolled in the University of Kansas in Lawrence where he was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity. He completed one year at Univ. of Kansas before discontinuing his studies to help support his aunt's family during the Great Depression. He worked as an accountant according to the 1940 census in Kansas City, MO.

Frank applied to the US Volunteer US Naval Reserve (USNR) Flight Training Program (V-5) in mid-summer 1940. He completed the application process which included a personal written resume, current photo, background check, three personal references, a physical and dental exam, all high school and college transcripts and an interview with the Naval Reserve Flight Selection Board at the US Naval Reserve Aviation Base(NRAB) at Lambert Field in Robertson, Missouri. The selection board would make a recommendation as to O'Flaherty's suitability as a commissioned naval officer and naval aviator. If they deemed the applicant suitable, the board would forward their recommendation to the Navy Department who made the final determination.

After he was deemed qualified for the program, O'Flaherty enlisted as a Seaman Second Class (S2/c) in the V5 program on 25 Sept 1940 (NSN: 411-17-16) in Kansas City, KS for a term of four years. Several days later, O'Flaherty reported to the NRAB, Lambert Field for 30 days of elimination base training ("E-base"). In order to continue toward primary flight training as an Aviation Cadet, O'Flaherty had to progress through ground school and nine hours of flight time (with an instructor) and, on the tenth hour, he had to solo successfully in the yellow, open-cockpit Stearman N3N biplane know among all cadets as the "Yellow Peril." Then he was evaluated against his classmates to determine his final standing and potential eligibility for selection.

Upon successful completion of e-base, O'Flaherty was released to inactive duty and sent home to await further orders. In Dec 1940, O'Flaherty received orders from the Secretary of the Navy to proceed to the Naval Air Station (NAS), Pensacola and report to the Commandant to begin flight training. He was discharged from enlisted status on 26 Jan 1941. The following day he took the oath of office and accepted the appointment as an Aviation Cadet on 27 Jan 1941. His date of rank as an Aviation Cadet was 15 Jan 1941. He was assigned to the 86 aviation cadet-strong class 160-C and began two weeks of indoctrination training in the first week of February 1941.

He completed primary and intermediate flight training in late July 1941. O'Flaherty transferred to NAS Miami (Opa-Locke) in early August 1941 for carrier plane pilot training with the Advanced Training Specialized Carrier Group, While at Miami O'Flaherty received his designation as a Naval Aviator (heavier-than-air) effective July 1941. He received his commission as an Ensign, AV-(N), USNR, on 12 Sept 1941 with a date of rank of 21 June 1941. He was detached from NAS Miami in late Sept 1941 with orders to report when directed to Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) (USS Enterprise) for duty and with a delay to count as leave. After a period of leave, Ensign O'Flaherty was to report to the Advanced Carrier Training Group (ACTG) in San Diego, CA for duty involving flying under instruction for 6-8 weeks prior to reporting to VS-6.

Transferred from the Eleventh Naval District (COM 11) in San Diego after he completed his training, Ensign O'Flaherty, according to navy records, boarded the transport USS President Hayes (AP-39) in San Diego on 23 Jan 1942. She steamed to Pearl Harbor on 25 Jan 1942 arriving about a week later where he disembarked and reported to NAS Pearl Harbor for duty. Enterprise and Scouting Six (VS-6) were sent to sea about two weeks prior to his arrival.

On 09 January 1942, Admiral Nimitz directed Admiral Halsey to raid the southern Marshall and northern Gilbert area employing air attack and ship bombardment. On 01 Feb 1942, Enterprise with TF 8 attacked Kwajalein, Wotje, and Maloelap in the Marshall Islands marking the first offensive action by US forces in the Pacific. Several weeks later Enterprise and her task force attacked Wake Island on 24 Feb 1942. That action was followed by the Marcus Island raid on 04 Mar 1942.

Meanwhile, Ens. O'Flaherty had been temporarily assigned to the shore-based Bombing Squadron Three (VB-3) at NAS Kaneohe Bay under the command of Lcdr Max Leslie in February 1942. For the next month VB-3 provided a much need training ground for the rookie pilot. Ens. O'Flaherty who had never flown the Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber was getting his introduction. In early March, O'Flaherty was joined by other rookie pilots from the ACTG, Norfolk including Ensigns John Lough, Carl Peiffer, John Bridgers and John Quincy Butler. On 18 Mar, VB-3 was directed to temporarily replace Scouting Squadron Six (VS-6) on board USS Enterprise (CV-6). VS-6 had accumulated losses of aircrews and planes from combat and transfers and was in need of rest and replenishment.

On 08 April 1942, VB-3 flew on board the Enterprise. Ens. O'Flaherty flew on board with VB-3. Five days later, Enterprise executed a rendezvous with USS Hornet (CV-8) and her deck full of Army B-25 bombers. Doolittle's raiders took to the cloudy skies on 18 April 1942 delivering a surprise "gift" to Japan. Enterprise and Hornet steamed back to Hawaii. During the transit home to Pearl, Lcdr Leslie took the opportunity to carrier-qualify some of his rookie pilots, including Frank O'Flaherty, John Q. Roberts, Johnny Lough, John Bridgers, and Carl Peiffer who were destined for transfer to VS-6. Each pilot was in-the-grove that day and became qualified for carrier operations as dive-bomber pilots. VB-3 flew off from Enterprise and returned to NAS Kaneohe Bay just prior to Enterprise's arrival at Pearl Harbor on 25 April. Ensigns O'Flaherty, Lough, Bridgers, Butler, and Peiffer reported for duty to VS-6 the next day.

Underway on 30 April, Enterprise and USS Hornet received their squadrons from bases on Hawaii. VS-6 had replaced VB-3 on Enterprise. It was to be a badly needed training cruise, however, several days later Enterprise and Hornet were directed to the South Pacific to assist aircraft carriers USS Lexington (CV-2) and USS Yorktown (CV-5) engaged in the battle of the Coral Sea. The battle was over before they could arrive on-scene. Enterprise was then directed to perform a feint towards Nauru and Banaba (Ocean) islands which caused the Japanese to delay Operation RY to seize the two islands. Enterprise returned to Pearl Harbor on 26 May and began intensive preparations to meet an expected Japanese thrust at Midway Island. She got underway from Pearl Harbor on 28 May 1942, and with Hornet (CV-8), steamed toward a point Northeast of Midway called "Point Luck." USS Yorktown (CV-5) followed a short time later.

Early on the morning of 4 Jun 1942 the Enterprises' air group along with those from the Hornet (CV-8) and Yorktown (CV-5) launched their strike packages to intercept and attack the Japanese carrier fleet approaching the Midway Atoll. The Commanding Officer of VS-6, Lt Wilmer Gallagher, led his squadron in SBD 6-S-1 which was comprised of three divisions for a total of 14 SBD dive bombers. Second Division was led by Lt Clarence Dickinson in 6-S-10 and Third Division was led by Lt Charles Rollins Ware in 6-S-4. Ens O'Flaherty was assigned to the third division flying SBD 6-S-5. His rear-seat gunner/radioman was Aviation Machinists Mate First Class (AMM1) Bruno Peter Gaido. At 1022, the fourteen VS-6 bombers began their attack on the Japanese aircraft carrier Kaga. Within moments the Kaga was struck by many bombs that set her afire from bow to stern. After pulling out of their attack dive, VS-6 aircraft were attacked by Japanese fighters. Already low on fuel the Dauntlesses were forced to employ evasive maneuvers to avoid their attackers as well as a hail of anti-aircraft fire from the ships. Ens O'Flaherty survived the initial assault on Kaga and joined with Lt Charles Ware in 6-S-4, VS-6 third division leader, and Ensigns James Shelton (6-S-6), Carl D. Peiffer (6-S-12), John C. Lough (6-S-14) and John McCarthy (6-S-15). After clearing the battle area, Lt Ware led his group toward Midway per previous instructions. He assembled the six planes into 2 three plane sections. Section 1 was himself, Ens. Shelton and Ens. Peiffer. The second section comprised Ens. McCarthy, Ens. O'Flaherty and Ens. John C. Lough.

Shortly after they started for home Ens. O'Flaherty was forced to ditch because of fuel exhaustion. Other members of his squadron saw him and his radioman/gunner,AMM1 Bruno P. Gaido, get out of their plane and deploy their life raft. That was the last anyone ever heard of them. That is, until the end of the war, when US investigators found that O'Flaherty and Gaido had been picked up by the Japanese destroyer Makigumo on 4 Jun 1942, alive and well. After O'Flaherty and Gaido were interrogated the ship's commander had them bound with weights and thrown overboard where they were executed by drowning. The exact date isn't known but its assumed to be about June 15, 1942. Japanese eyewitnesses to their execution said that both men died without protestation but with honor and courage. Without the facts learned after the war, the Navy department listed them as missing in action on 04 Jun 1942 and presumed dead on 05 Jun 1943.

As the Ware group continued onward they were sighted and attacked by several enemy planes from a Japanese attack group from Hiryu that was counter-attacking Yorktown. Although no American planes were shot down during this encounter they were forced to use up vital fuel supplies to avoid their attackers. Ware and McCarthy "discussed" the best way home. Each decided on a different course. Along with Lt Ware, Ensigns Shelton and Peiffer followed one course and Ens. McCarthy and Ens. Lough took another. After about 15 minutes the two groups lost sight of each other. It was the last time anyone ever saw Ware, Lough, Shelton and Peiffer. Also lost were their gunners RM3 Jeck, RM2 Hansen, ARM1 Stambaugh and RM3 Craig. Their remains were unrecoverable.

Ens. O'Flaherty was (posthumously) awarded the Navy Cross, the Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation with ribbon, American Defense Service Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with one bronze battle star and the World War II Victory Medal. He and AMM1 Gaito may also be eligible for the prisoner of war medal.

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USS O'Flaherty (DE-340) named in his honor. In early Nov 1943, the Secretary of the Navy, Frank Knox, sent a letter to Ensign Lavada M. O'Flaherty, Frank's sister, asking her to sponsor a new Destroyer Escort vessel that was to be called the U.S.S. O'Flaherty.

In part the letter reads, My dear Miss O'Flaherty: It gives me great pleasure to designate you as sponsor for the Destroyer Escort Vessel U.S.S. O'Flaherty (DE340), named in honor of your brother, the late Ensign Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty, U.S. Naval Reserve. The Supervisor of Shipbuilding, U.S.N., at the plant of the Consolidated Steel Corporation, Ltd., Shipbuilding Division, will arrange with you all details connected with the launching . . . Will you please advise the Department, at you earliest convenience, if you will be able to act as sponsor for this vessel when she is launched. Sincerely yours, (signed) Frank Knox.

Ens. Lavada O'Flaherty received special designation from the SECNAV as she was the first of her rank and first from the Navy Nurse Corps to sponsor the launching of a vessel in the Gulf Coast area. The O'Flaherty was launched in Orange, TX on 14 Dec 1943. Commissioned 8 April 1944. Saw action in several Pacific Theater campaigns in 1945 including the invasion of Lingayen Gulf, the Battle of Iwo Jima and the Battle of Okinawa. Decommissioned in San Diego in January 1947. She was struck from the NSL 01 Dec 1972 and sold for scrap on 27 Nov 1973. O'Flaherty earned four battle stars for WWII service, one each for her participation in the capture and occupation of Guam, the Lingayen Gulf landing, the assault and occupation of Iwo Jima, and the assault and occupation of Okinawa

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Navy Cross Citation:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to FRANK WOODROW O'FLAHERTY, Ensign, United States Naval Reserve, for extraordinary heroism and courageous devotion to duty while piloting an airplane of a scouting squadron in action against enemy Japanese forces, and for participating in a devastating assault against a Japanese invasion fleet, he with fortitude and resolute devotion to duty, pressed home his attack in the face of a formidable barrage of anti-aircraft fire and fierce fighter opposition. His gallant perseverance and utter disregard for his own personal safety were important contributing factors to the success achieved by our forces and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

General Orders: Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 309 (December 1942)

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The Presidential Unit Citation reads:

For consistently outstanding performance and distinguished achievement during repeated action against enemy Japanese forces in the Pacific war area, 7 December 1941, to 15 November 1942. Participating in nearly every major carrier engagement in the first year of the war, the Enterprise and her air group, exclusive of far-flung destruction of hostile shore installations throughout the battle area, did sink or damage on her own a total of 35 Japanese vessels and shot down a total of 185 Japanese aircraft. Her aggressive spirit and superb combat efficiency are fitting tribute to the officers and men who so gallantly established her as an ahead bulwark in the defense of the American nation.

Actions of the Enterprise mentioned in the citation include the Gilbert and Marshalls of 01 Feb 1942; Wake Island raid, 24 Feb 1942; Marcus Island raid, 04 Mar 1942; Battle of Midway, 4-6 Jun 1942; Occupation of Guadalcanal, 7-8 Aug 1942; Battle of Stewart Islands, 24 Aug 1942; Battle of Santa Cruz Islands, 26 Oct 1942; and Battle of Solomon Islands, 14-15 Nov 1942.

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His family also received a commemoration from President Franklin D. Roosevelt. It reads: In grateful memory of Frank Woodrow O'Flaherty, who died in the service of his country, SEA, Pacific Area, ATTACHED U.S.S. ENTERPRISE, 5 JUNE 1943 (Presumed). He stands in the unbroken line of patriots who have dared to die that freedom might live and grow and increase its blessings. Freedom lives, and through it, he lives -- in a way that humbles the undertakings of most men.

(Signed) Franklin D. Roosevelt,

President of the United States

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Combat Action Ribbon (CR) note:

None of the Navy/Marine flight crews in the Battle of Midway were eligible for or were awarded the Combat Action Ribbon (CR). See Navy and Marine Corps Awards Manual (SECNAVINST M-1650.1 of 16 Aug 2019, Appendix 2C.1.c (3) Amplifying Guidance). It reads in part, "The CR will not be awarded in connection with aerial flight, . . . " The CR was established in 1969 and made retroactive to 07 Dec 1941. According to the Awards Manual, when deemed appropriate, the award for aerial combat is the Air Medal.

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[Bio #211 compiled on 04 July 2020 revised 04 April 2024 by Gerry Lawton (GML470)]

Memorial Page Find A Grave.com ID#56127242

Military Hall of Honor Honoree ID: 99045