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Personal info

Full name
TOBICZYK, Joseph H Jr
Date of birth
6 March 1922
Age
22
Place of birth
Pennsylvania
Hometown
Alleheny County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
O-806550
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Co-Pilot
Unit
349th Bombardment Squadron,
100th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
12 June 1944
Place of death
North Sea, 9 miles off Dunkerque, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Tablets of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Josef Tobiczyk (father)
Frances (Lorek) Tobiczyk (mother)
Della Tobiczyk (sister)
Helen Tobiczyk (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
43-37601
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Rosières-en-Santerre, France
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 5625

More information

2nd Lt Joseph H. Tobiczyk Jr. was a mechanic before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on 30 January 1942.

The crew was on their first mission.

The aircraft was hit by flak over Dunkerque at 08.53 hours at 24,000 feet. The #4 engine caught fire and the right wing broke off near the the #4 engine inducing a spin. Five or six parachutes may have come from this aircraft.

The only survivor, George L. Sherback had no recollection of leaving the plane and believed he must have been blown clear. A German officer told him the plane exploded and the remains of the other crew members went into the sea.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.100thbg.com, www.fold3.com - MACR

Photo source: www.findagrave.com, www.100thbg.com