Post by Steve Sparks on Mar 18, 2022 7:07:00 GMT 8
My name is Steve Sparks.
My great uncle was Major Charles Roy Sneed. He was a member of the 20th Pursuit Squadron on 8 Dec 1941 and had landed to refuel when the Japanese flew over and destroyed most of his squadron's aircraft.
It has been reported he suffered from PTSD after witnessing most of his friends and coworkers die around him.
He was handpicked to be in the headquarters of the 5th Interceptor Command (Bamboo Fleet).
General Wainwright ordered him and 1st Lt Perry Franks to evacuate AP War Correspondent off of Corregidor on Apr 9, 1942.
The two pilots flew a biplane trainer off Corregidor, crashed that plane twice, and eventually got the reported to Mindanao, where the reporter was evacuated to Australia. Both pilots received the Distinguished Flying Cross for that evacuation.
Upon arrival on Mindanao, Sneed became General Sharpe's Air Force staff member. Sneed had at least two opportunities to evacuate off of Mindanao, but both times, something happened and he never left.
Upon surrender of Mindanao, Sneed and Franks were taken prisoner by the Japanese. Sneed was ordered by Sharpe to conduct P-40 aircraft flight training for the Japanese to understand how the aircraft operated. Supposedly, the air show was so good, the Japanese required him to do it a second time. We believe the Japanese might have made a movie of this flight. We would really like to find it if it exists.
Sneed then was taken back to the POW Compound. He spent time in many of the prisons around the Philippines.
Sneed and Franks both died on Hell Ships. Franks was on the SS ShinyĆ Maru when it went down on Sept 7, 1944. He is buried in the Manilla Cemetary. Sneed survive the sinking of the Oryoko Maru, but died on the Enoura Maru on Jan 9, 1945. His remains are still MIA, but our family thinks he could be in Punchbowl in a tomb of the unknown Enoura Maru victims.
I am trying to locate any information on Sneed or Franks. I would really like to talk to the Franks family to find out what information they might have. I have read most book on these two pilots... probably the most information came out of "Doomed at the Start" by Bartsch.
For further information, you can read about Sneed here: www.facebook.com/Major-Charles-Roy-Mort-Sneed-103851831823489
You can reach me at s_dot_sparks_at_rocketmail_dot_com
My great uncle was Major Charles Roy Sneed. He was a member of the 20th Pursuit Squadron on 8 Dec 1941 and had landed to refuel when the Japanese flew over and destroyed most of his squadron's aircraft.
It has been reported he suffered from PTSD after witnessing most of his friends and coworkers die around him.
He was handpicked to be in the headquarters of the 5th Interceptor Command (Bamboo Fleet).
General Wainwright ordered him and 1st Lt Perry Franks to evacuate AP War Correspondent off of Corregidor on Apr 9, 1942.
The two pilots flew a biplane trainer off Corregidor, crashed that plane twice, and eventually got the reported to Mindanao, where the reporter was evacuated to Australia. Both pilots received the Distinguished Flying Cross for that evacuation.
Upon arrival on Mindanao, Sneed became General Sharpe's Air Force staff member. Sneed had at least two opportunities to evacuate off of Mindanao, but both times, something happened and he never left.
Upon surrender of Mindanao, Sneed and Franks were taken prisoner by the Japanese. Sneed was ordered by Sharpe to conduct P-40 aircraft flight training for the Japanese to understand how the aircraft operated. Supposedly, the air show was so good, the Japanese required him to do it a second time. We believe the Japanese might have made a movie of this flight. We would really like to find it if it exists.
Sneed then was taken back to the POW Compound. He spent time in many of the prisons around the Philippines.
Sneed and Franks both died on Hell Ships. Franks was on the SS ShinyĆ Maru when it went down on Sept 7, 1944. He is buried in the Manilla Cemetary. Sneed survive the sinking of the Oryoko Maru, but died on the Enoura Maru on Jan 9, 1945. His remains are still MIA, but our family thinks he could be in Punchbowl in a tomb of the unknown Enoura Maru victims.
I am trying to locate any information on Sneed or Franks. I would really like to talk to the Franks family to find out what information they might have. I have read most book on these two pilots... probably the most information came out of "Doomed at the Start" by Bartsch.
For further information, you can read about Sneed here: www.facebook.com/Major-Charles-Roy-Mort-Sneed-103851831823489
You can reach me at s_dot_sparks_at_rocketmail_dot_com