Francis P. Scandell

Second Lieutenant Francis P. Scandell was born Francis P. Skedzielewski on January 3, 1921, in Philadelphia, PA, to Michael and Antonia Skedzielewski. He grew up in Camden, NJ, where his parents lived at 1443 South 10th Street. He attended St. Joseph Parochial School and Camden High School in Camden, and graduated as valedictorian of the 1940 class from Camden County Vocational School in Pennsauken, NJ. He was also a member of the Camden YMCA Debating Club. After high school he was employed as a draftsman by the ITE Circuit Breaker Company in Philadelphia, PA.

After entering the service on December 9, 1942, he trained at Ellington Field, TX, then graduated from the Army Air Force Bombardier School at Concho Field, San Angelo, TX, in December of 1943, winning his wings and a commission as a Second Lieutenant. The Camden Courier-Post reported his commissioning on December 21, 1943. After San Angelo, he underwent heavy bomber training at Colorado Springs, CO. Assigned to a bomber crew, he flew the “southern route” to Italy in March of 1944 and was assigned to the 484th Bomber Group.

Second Lieutenant Scandell was killed in action on May 10, 1944, on a raid over Austria. He was reported missing in action in the June 22, 1944 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart. He was survived by his parents, Michael and Antonia Skedzielewski; and three brothers — Edmund, serving in the U.S. Army Signal Corps; Carl, with the infantry; and Michael Jr., then an air cadet at Concho Field, San Angelo, TX.