Flannagan, Francis (Frank)

Francis Patrick Joseph Flannagan (known as Frank) was the son of Jessie, nee Beach (1876-1939) and Patrick Joseph Flannagan (1871-1933), both of New Plymouth.

He was born about 1920 and was educated at New Plymouth Boys High School where he enjoyed playing rugby and cricket and swimming.

His father Patrick was a well-known identity due to his involvement in many local organisations especially the East End Surf Club, New Plymouth Old Boy’s Surf Club and the Taranaki Centre of the Royal Life Saving Society. He helped to set up the swimming centre’s “Learn to Swim” week in 1930 ensuring New Plymouth schools had transport to get their children to the swimming pool to take part in the programme. His name is still remembered in New Plymouth due to the annual open water swim, the Flannagan Cup, which he established in 1916. Patrick died in 1933 at the age of 61, when Francis was only about 13 years old.

After leaving school in 1937 Francis worked as clerk. In 1939 his mother Jessie died. When World War Two was declared he volunteered for the Fleet Air Arm and was sent to the Portsmouth and then Gosport in the United Kingdom for training as a Naval Airman 2^nd Class in April 1941. Frank was then posted to the USA to undertake further advanced training, at Michigan and then later Pensacola, Florida. He was promoted to Temporary Sub Lieutenant (A) in April 1942.

He was then transferred to Miami for special exercises, and it was here he lost his life. On 30 May 1942 he was flying a Brewster Buffalo on a training flight when it spun to the ground five miles from the airfield. He is buried at the Woodland Park Cemetery, Miami, Florida, USA.

Documents

Thanks Notices, Taranaki Daily News 29 May 1943