Francis (Frank) Antilla
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Not Available
Mr. Antilla served in World War II in the Pacific and European Theaters.
He served with the U.S. Merchant Marine from September 28, 1943 until August 15, 1947. He was assigned to U.S. Army Sea tugboats. He received Pacific and Mediterranean-Atlantic Combat bars.
His rank was Able Seaman.
Mr. Antilla was born in 1927 to Albert and Josephine Antilla in Wing, North Dakota. He graduated from high school in 1946 and received a BA from UMD in 1977.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall History Form; veteran’s account (see below); article from Bovey Press, Friday, June 1, 1945 (see below)
“I sailed in the Pacific Ocean area from September 1943 to April 1944. I was sent to Europe in May 1944. I served in Europe from May 1944 to August 1945. We towed war materials and cranes from England to Omaha and Utah Beaches, Le Havre, Cherbourg, France, and to various ports in Belgium. Our ship the LT 363 was hit by a V-1 flying bomb December 29, 1944.“
Rocket attack reported in Bovey Press:
“Francis Antilla Survives V-Bombing Aboard Lt 363 at Antwerp Headquarters, Transportation Corps, Paris –
“Svend A. Christensen, Master abord the LT 363 civilian-manned U.S. Army Tug survived a direct hit of a V-bomb when it landed not more than 10 yards away from the bow of the ship while at Antwerp.
”It happened when a V-bomb broke the rules and doubled back after its motor had stopped. In his quarters at the time Captain Christensen knew nothing of the V1’s approach until his door and part of the bulkhead crashed in on him. A sliver of glass buried itself in his face as the mirror over his wash basin shattered, and the wash basin itself was hurled across the room. Scalding water from the burst radiator pipes streamed toward all directions as the captain groped his way to the wheelhouse.
“There he found his Navy Signal man and his Army Radio Operator both suffering from glass cuts. They had been sitting with their backs to the chart table when the shatter-proof glass of the wheelhouse gave in. Most of it went over their heads, however, just above their head level there was a beading of two inch oak, and along its whole length there were big cracks filled with pulverized glass and other cracks where daggers of glass were driven through.
”After assuring himself that the ship was secure, Captain Christensen took all the injured men to the nearest U.S. Dispensary leaving the ship in charge of the first officer who was not injured in the blast. After the boat had been shifted alongside a repair boat another V1 crashed directly into the slip which she had just vacated.
”A west coast built wooden tug, the LT 363 had crossed the Atlantic under its own power last July. The boat has made 19 operational trips from the United Kingdom to the Continent since coming overseas. Shortly after the bombing one of the cylinder heads cracked open. The boat is still operational.
”Francis Antilla of Bovey, a member of the crew aboard at the time of the blast was only slightly injured.”
