Francisco Mercado, Jr.
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| Francisco Mercado, Jr. | |
|---|---|
| February 17, 1920 – September 23, 2005 | |
 1st.Lieutenant Francisco Mercado, Jr. |
|
| Place of birth | Los Angeles, California |
| Place of death | Los Angeles, California |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Service/branch | United States Army Air Force |
| Years of service | 1942 - 1945 |
| Rank |  First Lieutenant |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying CrossAir Medal with four clusters |
| Other work | Among the first Latino journeymen electricans in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union(IBEW). |
1st. Lt. Francisco Mercado, Jr. (February 17, 1920 – September 23, 2005), was a member of the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) and recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross who earned his membership to the exclusive “Caterpillar Club” having saved his life by parachuting over England while returning from a mission with a crippled B-24 during World War II.
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[edit] Early years
Mercado was born in East Los Angeles, California and baptized as "David Mercado". He graduated from Garfield High School in 1939. Having an aptitude and interest in electrical work, he graduated from Frank Wiggins Trade School (later L.A. Trade Tech) with high standing in 1940. However, all in his class were chosen as apprentice electricians by the electricians union except the two minority men, Mercado and a Japanese-American.
With the outbreak of war, he volunteered as an Air Corps Aviation Cadet in 1942. When he signed up, much to his surprise, the name on his birth certificate was Francisco Mercado. His Father who spoke little English had given his own name for the certificate instead of his son’s by mistake. To the army he would be known as Francisco Mercado, Jr.
[edit] World War II
He completed primary flight training in a Ryan PT-22 with 60 hours (28 solo) on October 27, 1942 and basic flight training in a Vultee BT-13 with 58 hours (21 solo) and was sent to dual engine advanced pilot training at Williams Field, Arizona in January, 1943. [1] After graduation, his class was to go into either the B-26 or night fighters. Mercado flew only four training flights with the AT-17 in early January when he came down with bad flu-like symptoms (probably Valley Fever) and was sent to the base infirmary for almost a month. He found himself quite far behind and after ten more hours of instruction flights, he was given a check ride and was washed out in early March 1943. Fate may have been kinder that he thought at the time. The wash out rate for this class was very high as they were to fly difficult aircraft. His best friend in the class went on to fly night fighters and was killed on his first solo night flight. [2]
Mercado was offered the option of Bombardier or Navigator training. He graduated from the Bombardier School at Kirtland Field (now Kirtland Air Force Base), Albuquerque, New Mexico in class WFTC 43-13 on September 11, 1943 and proudly received his Bombardier Wings and a commission as a Second Lieutenant. While in Albuquerque, he met a girl named Mildred Garcia who was at the University of New Mexico in a special program to train schoolteachers. [2]
He was assigned to the 491st Bomb Group (Heavy) which was equipped with the Consolidated B-24. The group completed its combat training at Pueblo, Colorado and deployed overseas to England using the southern route which included Florida, Trinidad, Brazil, and North Africa.
Mercado flew 35 combat missions as a Bombardier over enemy occupied Continental Europe as a member of the 853rd Bomb Squadron, 491st Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. He was awarded the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Cluster and the Distinguished Flying Cross. He flew ten missions as the Squadron Lead Bombardier, and one as the Group Lead Bombardier on December 30, 1944 on a mission to the Railroad Bridge at Altenahr, Germany. He earned a membership into the exclusive “Caterpillar Club” having saved his life by parachuting on July 21, 1944 over England while returning from a mission with a crippled B-24. [3]
[edit] Later years
After the war, Mercado returned to his profession as an electrican. He married Mildred Garcia, the girl he had met in Albquerque and had three children and was very proud of his six grandchildren. Mercado, who retired in 1983, was one of the first Latino journeymen electricians in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union(IBEW). On September 23, 2005, Francisco Mercado, Jr. died in the city of his birth, Los Angeles, California.
[edit] Awards and decorations
Among Mercado's awards and decorations were the following:
Awards:
Distinguished Flying Cross
Air Medal with four oak leaf clusters
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
American Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
Badges
[edit] References
- ^ Mercado, Francisco: "Pilot’s Flight Log", 1942-1943
- ^ a b The Fontana Chamber of Commerce
- ^ Rigg, William, and Blue, Allan et al: "The Ringmasters, History of the 491st Bombardment Group", page 49. Taylor Publishing Company, 1992
