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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
Personal info
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