Interview with Frank Fortuna
Dublin Core
Title
Interview with Frank Fortuna
Description
Frank describes piloted a landing craft to Gold Beach on D-Day and other operations during the Invasion of Normandy during World War Two.
Creator
Yonkers Public Library
Source
Frank Fortuna
Publisher
Yonkers Public Library
Date
4/1/2019
Format
MP3
Identifier
2019.027.001
Oral History Item Type Metadata
Interviewer
Michael Walsh
Interviewee
Frank Fortuna
Location
Grinton I. Will Library
Duration
38:36
Time Summary
00:22-Being born in Italy.
00:40-Emigrating to the U,S. when he was four.
00:49-Living in Yonkers for his whole life.
1:53-Remembering Pearl Harbor.
3:25-Drafted and enlisted in the Navy.
5:46-Reports for duty aboard the LST-264.
6:20-Engine problems with the LST-264.
7:42-Trained as a deckhand and a small boat coxswain.
9:36-Training in England before D-day.
11:20-Celebrates St.Patrick's Day in Derry, Ireland.
13:52-D-Day.
15:00-LST-264 responsible for bringing British troops to Gold beach.
16:03-Use of DUKWs.
17:40-General Erwin Rommel.
18:37-His landing craft hitting an obstacle at Gold Beach.
20:00-Landing craft getting stuck on the beach.
21:26-Taken back to LST-264.
21:45-Making around 100 trips between England and Omaha Beach.
23:05-Brings Patton's staff and vehicles to France.
24:14-LST-264 goes up the Seine River.
24:41-Cherbourg, France.
25:00-Le Harve, France.
25:44-German prisoners of POWs brought to Southampton, England in the LST-264.
26:05-American POWS brought back to the U.S. in LST-264.
27:40-B-25 hits Empire State Building.
29:37-Discharged from the Navy on December 7, 1945.
32:00-French destroyer engages German positions at Gold Beach.
32:56-Low visibility on D-Day.
33:58-Insignias on planes changed before D-Day.
33:54-Frank went to school as a mechanic using money from the G.I. Bill.
34:20-Works in construction as a shop steward.
34:40-Retires at 67.
35:13-Works for General Motors.
35:40-Place on School Street owned by Dutch Schultz.
37:13-Married and has children.
00:40-Emigrating to the U,S. when he was four.
00:49-Living in Yonkers for his whole life.
1:53-Remembering Pearl Harbor.
3:25-Drafted and enlisted in the Navy.
5:46-Reports for duty aboard the LST-264.
6:20-Engine problems with the LST-264.
7:42-Trained as a deckhand and a small boat coxswain.
9:36-Training in England before D-day.
11:20-Celebrates St.Patrick's Day in Derry, Ireland.
13:52-D-Day.
15:00-LST-264 responsible for bringing British troops to Gold beach.
16:03-Use of DUKWs.
17:40-General Erwin Rommel.
18:37-His landing craft hitting an obstacle at Gold Beach.
20:00-Landing craft getting stuck on the beach.
21:26-Taken back to LST-264.
21:45-Making around 100 trips between England and Omaha Beach.
23:05-Brings Patton's staff and vehicles to France.
24:14-LST-264 goes up the Seine River.
24:41-Cherbourg, France.
25:00-Le Harve, France.
25:44-German prisoners of POWs brought to Southampton, England in the LST-264.
26:05-American POWS brought back to the U.S. in LST-264.
27:40-B-25 hits Empire State Building.
29:37-Discharged from the Navy on December 7, 1945.
32:00-French destroyer engages German positions at Gold Beach.
32:56-Low visibility on D-Day.
33:58-Insignias on planes changed before D-Day.
33:54-Frank went to school as a mechanic using money from the G.I. Bill.
34:20-Works in construction as a shop steward.
34:40-Retires at 67.
35:13-Works for General Motors.
35:40-Place on School Street owned by Dutch Schultz.
37:13-Married and has children.
Files
Collection
Citation
Yonkers Public Library, “Interview with Frank Fortuna,” Yonkers Public Library Archive, accessed April 26, 2024, http://archive.ypl.org/items/show/587.