Frank Studenski, Plankowner

June 15, 2013

I also met Frank Studenski.   Frank was a fire director for Quad 5, an elevated 40mm gun turret on the starboard side of the ship, right near the signal bridge.

Ever since I read his AMAZING War Diary   –   U.S.S. BOSTON CA69, I’ve wanted to meet him and have a chat about the ship and his service.   Frank’s diary became the basis for my first book, A Bird’s Eye View.   In fact, I incorporated many entries form his diary into the narrative by making him a friend of the main character (my dad, William Kelly).

The first thing that struck me when I went into his house was two intricately crafted and beautifully done scale models of areas of the ship:   Quad 5, and the part of the fantail that held one catapult and an SC1 Seahawk floatplane.

Quad 5 40mm gun tub and Sky Director

Float plane catapult, fueling hoses (l), rafts and netting used by pilots for landing (r)

Frank has built models of CA-69, CAG1, the Boston submarine, the Boston man-o-war, and the Boston frigate   –   all of which are displayed at the annual Shipmates Reunion (this year’s reunion is in Alberquerque).   Frank’s model of CA-69 is also on display in Buffalo and another model on the USS Massachusetts in Battleship Cove, Fall River, MA.   He showed me pictures of all the models he built.

Frank’s uniform, some personal effects and his Japanese flag “souvenir” from the War are on display in the Stephen Ambrose D-Day Museum in New Orleans.

More on Frank and John Farkas in future posts. HAPPY FATHER’S DAY.

steve