Francis Bacon Peoples

Second Lieutenant Francis Bacon Peoples was killed in a training mission plane crash on April 27, 1944 at Tuskegee Air Field, Tuskegee, Alabama while on active duty during World War II.  He was 24 years old.

Francis Bacon Peoples was born on June 12, 1919 in Henderson, North Carolina, the son of William H. Peoples and Sallie Peoples.  He graduated from Henderson Institute in 1935 and attended Hampton Institute.  Peoples was employed by the Arden Novelty Company in New York, New York before enlisting in the U.S. Army.  He was married to Lucille Jones Peoples of New York City. 

2LT Peoples initially trained as a driver and gunner in the 758th Tank Battalion at Camp Hood, Texas.  He subsequently joined the Army Aviation Cadet Corps at Tuskegee Airfield where he was awarded his wings and was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on April 11, 1944.  Two weeks later, on April 27, 1944, as a required maneuver, he climbed to 12,000 feet in his P-40 aircraft and plunged toward the ground at 400 miles per hour.  The aircraft failed to pull up in time and crashed into the ground killing Peoples. 

Second Lieutenant Francis Bacon Peoples is buried in Mount Pleasant Church Cemetery, Vance County, North Carolina. 

Last edited: 8 June 2026