Special to the Roanoke Rapids Herald, North Carolina. February 15, 1945

AN EIGHTH AIR FORCE BOMBER STATION, ENGLAND - Colonel Frank P. Hunter, Jr., 321 Hamilton St., Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, who has been declared “missing in action” over Germany, has earned an Oak Leaf Cluster to his Distinguished Flying Cross for “extraordinary achievement” while serving as Air Commander of a bombardment formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses on a mission over Germany on January 23, 1945.

The citation accompanying the award read in part-

“On this date Colonel Hunter assembled the formation above the briefed altitude because of heavy cloud cover in the assembly area. Skillfully maintaining formation integrity, this officer directed the flight to the target area where adverse weather conditions were encountered.”

“Displaying unremitting determination and exemplary leadership, this officer maneuvered the formation and commenced the bomb run. The aircraft in which he was flying was then hit by a burst of anti-aircraft and failed to return from the mission. The courage, coolness and devotion to duty displayed by Colonel Hunter on this occasion reflect the highest credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States.”

Colonel Hunter was commanding officer of the 398th Bomb Group (H). He was graduated from the United States Military Academy in 1933. His wife, Mrs. Maria Long Hunter, also is from Roanoke Rapids.