Years of service 1939–1942 Awards Navy Cross | Role Sailor Name Albert Francovich | |
Born January 23, 1920
Shamokin, Pennsylvania ( 1920-01-23 ) Rank Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Battles/wars Solomon Islands campaign, World War II Died September 6, 1942, Solomon Islands Battles and wars Solomon Islands campaign, World War II | ||
Service/branch United States Navy Allegiance United States of America | ||
Albert A. Francovich (1920–1942) was a United States Navy sailor who received the Navy Cross for his actions during World War II. Francovich is of Croatian descent.
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Naval career
Albert Anthony Francovich was born on January 23, 1920 at Shamokin, Pennsylvania. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy on March 8, 1939.
As an aviation machinist's mate first class with a patrol squadron during the Solomon Islands campaign, Francovich was killed in action in an engagement with a Japanese four-engined flying boat on September 6, 1942.
Francovich posthumously was awarded the Navy Cross for his great heroism in standing to his gun although mortally wounded.
Commemoration
The U.S. Navy destroyer escort USS Francovich (DE-379) was named for Aviation Machinist's Mate First Class Francovich during World War II. When the destroyer escort's construction was cancelled in 1944 prior to completion, the name was transferred to the destroyer escort USS Francovich (DE-606), which was then redesignated and constructed as a fast transport, serving in the Navy as such from 1945 to 1946 as USS Francovich (APD-116).