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name
ZOLYNSKI, Chester - Date of
birth
12 June 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
33333655 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
833rd Bombardment Squadron,
486th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
6 December 1944 - Place of
death
About 100 yards off the end of the breakwater
North Sea, IJmuiden, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph Zolynski (father)
Blanche (Wisniewska) Zolynski (mother)
Julia Zolynski (sister)
Eugene Zolynski (brother)
Dora Zolynski (sister)
Joseph W. Zolynski (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-37927 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: The Last Roundup
Destination: Merseburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the oir refinery
MACR: 11048
More information
S/Sgt Chester Zolynski was employed by the Pennsylvania Sugar Company.He enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 11 September 1942.
According to Capt. Smith of the 78th Fighter Group, one of the escorting fighterpilots, #1 and #2 engines already went out over the target, due to flak hits. The B-17 was escorted back with an escort of six fighters. It headed for a flak area at Ijmuiden, the Netherlands. The fighters tried to contact the B-17 on VHF but there was no answer. Then they tried to signal him visually but without any luck. It went through the flak area and had #3 and #4 engines shot out and catching fire. The right wing fell off and the plane went down in flames. It was seen to explode as it hit the water at about 100 yards off the end of the breakwater at IJmuiden.
Although three parachutes were seen, all nine crew members were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, Footnote.com, www.ancestry.com - Veteran Compensation Application File, 1940 US Census, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Margaret Milne - Dru Vogland