Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
STEMKOSKI, Stanley Pete
Date of birth
5 January 1918
Age
25
Place of birth
Pe Ell, Lewis County, Washington
Hometown
Lewis County, Washington

Military service

Service number
39380694
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Top Turret Gunner
Unit
368th Bombardment Squadron,
306th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
5 April 1943
Place of death
2,5 km south of Kalmthout, Belgium

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 29 5

Immediate family

Members
Stanley Stemkoski (father)
Elizabeth (Potaczek) Stemkoski (mother)
Eddie Stemkoski (brother)
John Stemkoski (brother)
Josephine S. Stemkoski (sister)
Joseph F. Stemkoski (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
41-24465
Data
Type: B-17F
Destination: Mortsel, Belgium
Mission: Bombing of the Erla engine and aircraft factory
MACR: 15534

More information

The airplane was hit by flak, by German fighters or both. On the return flight, it was seen to turn toward enemy territory near Westkapelle on Walcheren Island, the Netherlands, with two engines smoking. It crashed in a field in Kalmthout, Belgium.

Seven crew members survived and were taken prisoner. Three men were killed. They were initially buried at the Soldiers Cemetery Schoonselhof in Hoboken, Belgium on 12 April 1943.

T/Sgt Stemkoski was found dead by a forest worker on 8 April 1943 about 2.5 km south of Kalmthout, Belgium.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com MACR, www.ancestry.com - Weldon Family Tree / 1930 Census / Washington, Births / WWII Draft Card

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet