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Personal info

Full name
NIEZGOCKI, Vernon George
Date of birth
14 October 1923
Age
20
Place of birth
Carlton County, Minnesota
Hometown
Washington County, Minnesota

Military service

Service number
17154732
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
816th Bombardment Squadron,
483rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
18 July 1944
Place of death
Near Memmingen, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
J 7 8

Immediate family

Members
Albert Niezgocki (father)
Hannah V. (Wicklund) Niezgocki (mother)
Violet C. Niezgocki (sister)
Russell A. Niezgocki (brother)
June V. Niezgocki (sister)
Kenneth Niezgocki (brother)
Donna M. Niezgocki (sister)
Clayton B. Niezgocki (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-102422
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Memmingen, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 7098

More information

S/Sgt Vernon G. Niezgocki was a plasterer before he volunteered for the Air Corps of the U.S. Army at Fort Snelling, Minnesota on 30 October 1942.

Lt Col Willard S. Sperry:
“The 483rd bombardment group went into the assigned target area without fighter escort or other group support. As the initial point was approached, approximately seventy-five enemy fighters swept by the group formation on the right, making a wide turn at the rear in preparation for a tail attack. The fighters moved up to the number three box after destroying the airplanes of the 816th squadron.”

S/Sgt Stephen Jaski:
“S/Sgt Niezgocki was hit in the hip by a 20 mm shell. I tried to get him in a comfortable position after he was wounded.”

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com – Russ Pickett, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Jul.44.html
Photo source: -