Memorial

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Sgt Edmund J. Nalewak was a driver before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on 20 January 1942.

T/Sgt Frederick B. Crutchfield, tail gunner of another B-17 in the group, witnesses what happened: "Just over the target, fighters attacked plane no. 42-31837, from 5 to 7 o’clock. This plane started smoking and a minute later started going down slowly under apparently good control. At this time, the parachutes started to come out, the first parachute opened o.k., the second and third parachutes both on fire. The fourth and fifth parachutes opened okay, then the plane went into a steep dive and started spinning. After the ship had fallen about 17 or 18 thousand feet, another parachute opened alright. The plane crashed a few seconds later into the ground."

Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner; five men were killed.

According to a surviving crew member, S/Sgt Jack Imhoff, Sgt Nalewak either was badly wounded or was unable to get out because of the spin.