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Personal info

Full name
RODEK, Alex Max
Date of birth
14 August 1920
Age
23
Place of birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
T-123225
Rank
Flight Officer
Function
Navigator
Unit
565th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
20 June 1944
Place of death
Kattegat Sea, Denmark

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Max Rodek (father)
Anna Rodek (mother)
Elaine Rodek (sister)
Stella Rodek (sister)
Jennie Rodek (sister)
Basil Rodek (brother)
Virginia Rodek (sister)
John Wieczorek (great Uncle)
Mike Rodek (Uncle)

Plane data

Serial number
42-95144
Data
Type: B-24H
Destination: Pölitz, Germany
MACR: 5923

More information

F/O Alex M. Rodek graduated from Crane Technical High School in 1938. He was on the track team as well as the Honor Society. He was employed at the Buick Aviation Engine Plant.

Aircraft was involved in a mid-air collision en route to target with bomber flown by Lt. Powers, and the tail assembly of Chappell's bomber was sheared off. Remains of A/C went into a spin and crashed in the Baltic Sea a mile from Danish soil. Only one man from the Chapell crew survived and was taken POW.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hisrch, Michel Beckers, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, Crane Technical High School, 1938