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Personal info

Full name
KRALICK, Joseph G
Date of birth
28 May 1913
Age
30
Place of birth
Saint Clair, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
St. Clair, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
33234207
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Waist Gunner
Unit
532nd Bombardment Squadron,
381st Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
25 July 1943
Place of death
Neustädt Bay, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
Plot Row Grave
D 12 49

Immediate family

Members
Joseph Kralick (father)
Mary A. (Sherkhness) Kralick (mother)
John A. Kralick (brother)
Anthony J. Kralick (brother)
Anna M. Kralick (sister)
Mary A. Kralick (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30013
Data
Type: B-17 F
Nickname: Lethal Lady
Destination: Hamburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the diesel engine works
MACR: 130

More information

S/Sgt Joseph G. Kralick graduated St. Clair High School and was a driller.

He enlisted in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania on 22 June 1942. He was sent to Europe early in 1943.

The primary target was the diesel engine works but due to cloud cover the Blohm & Voss Naval shipyard was bombed.

Report given by Lt Baltrusaitis, Pilot, and S/Sgt T.G. Murph, Tail Gunner, who's ship was flying left wing of Lt Owen's ship, while Lt Moore was flying Lt Owens's right wing in the formation: "Lt Moore's ship (42-30013) was hit by flak, just after passing over the target, Hamburg. Flak was believed to have knocked about a foot off of the left end of the left Airleron, knocked off part of the left horizonal stabilizer and the left wing tip was on fire. When last sighted, Lt Owen and Lt Moore's ships were going down together, straight ahead."
Six crewmembers were taken prisoner, 4 were killed.

S/Sgt Kralick was initially buried at the cemetery of Neustädt on 26 July 1943.

His picture was taken in high school in 1934.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Astrid van Erp, WWIIMemorial.com, NARA, Missing Aircrew Report 130, www.ancestry.com - 1940 census, family tree, Schuykill County Genealogy Pottsville Republican, Veteran Compensation Application File, www.newspapers.com - The Pottsville Republican 21, 23 September 1946

Photo source: Jac Engels, www.ancestry.com - St. Clair High School Yearbook 1934