Prior to U.S. involvement in World War II, the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Force activated for service on November 20, 1940. They were stationed at Hickam Field in Hawaii during the Pearl Harbor attack on December 7, 1941. They were scheduled to be delivering aircraft to the Philippines. They eventually made it to Australia where they were stationed at Brisbane beginning December 20, 1941.

In 1942, the squadron was reclassified as the 436th Bombardment Squadron. They flew missions in the China-Burma-India Theater of War. They were stationed at several locations in India from March 1942 to December of 1945. They were inactivated on January 6, 1946.

Green County airman Private First Class Francis J. Teehan served with the 88th Reconnaissance Squadron of the U.S. Army Air Force.

Francis James Teehan was born June 12, 1921 in Rock County, Wisconsin to Maurice and Belle (Stavn) Teehan.

From the 1930 U.S. Census, the Teehan family lived in Plymouth Township in Rock County, Wisconsin. The family included father Maurice, mother Ingeborg (aka Belle), her son Arthur Pankhurst, and their son Francis J. The family were renting their farm. Father Maurice was a farmer and stepson Arthur was a farm laborer.

From the 1940 U.S. Census, Francis J. Teehan was a soldier with the U.S. Army stationed at Chanute Field, Champaign County, Illinois. He was 18 and had four years of high school. 

From the July 23, 1942 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Army Lists Footville Man as Killed,” the article stated “Pvt. Francis J. Teehan, son of Mrs. Belle Teehan, Footville, has been killed in action in the Far East, the way department announced today…”

From the August 20, 1942 The Oshkosh Northwestern article titled “Crew is Cited For Gallantry In Action,” the article stated “The war department today added the silver star for exceptional gallantry in action to the nine-man crew of an army flying fortress which battled 34 Japanese fighter planes over Burma and shot down four before it was crippled and forced to land.

Only two of the crew returned. One was killed: six others bailed out and are believed to be prisoners.

The action took place June 4 when the plane was sent to bomb shipping at Rangoon. Hits were scored on a 10,000-ton freighter and then the crew tried to fight back to the safety of its India base.

In the furious battle, two of its motors were put out of action. Pvt. First Class Francis J. Teehan, Footeville (sic), Wis., a gunner, was killed. Flames from one of the disabled motors poured smoke through the plane and broken lines sprayed oil over the gunsights of the remaining machine gunners.

With only two motors remaining in service, the plane could not clear the mountains separating it from its base. Six of the crew were ordered to jump, and then Maj. Frank D. Sharp, Salam, Ore., the pilot, and Copilot Second Lieut. Herbert E. Wunderlich, Williston, N.Y., crash-landed near a British-controlled village. They destroyed the bomb sight with rifle bullets, and made their way to India, arriving in Calcutta, July 2.

The names of the six men believed to be prisoners were not revealed.”

From the October 18, 1949 Janesville Daily Gazette obituary for “Pvt. Francis J. Teehan,” the notice from Footville was that “Reburial services for Pvt. Francis Jr. (sic) Teehan, first Footville serviceman killed in World War II, will be held …

The son of Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Teehan, Francis Teehan was born June 12, 1921 in Hanover. He attended the Footville elementary school and was graduated from Janesville high school, later working at the Pet Milk plant.

Pfc. Teehan entered service Dec. 27, 1939 and was killed June 2, 1942, when the B-17 on which he served was shot down over Burma. Later a Silver Star was made posthumously at a ceremony in the Footville school.

Surviving are his parents and two half brothers Fred and Arthur Pankhurst, both of Beloit.”

Private Francis James Teehan was repatriated and re-buried at Calvary Cemetery in Monroe in Green County.

PFC Francis J. Teehan was listed on the “State At Large” page for Wisconsin on the National Archives WWII Honor Roll. He was Killed in Action. He should have been attributed to Rock County. His burial in Monroe gives him Green County representation, as well.

Thank you, Private First Class Francis James Teehan, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.