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Personal info

Full name
PIATKOWSKI, Chester Louis
Date of birth
1 July 1916
Age
26
Place of birth
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois
Hometown
Cook County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
36322112
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
Left Waist Gunner
Unit
336th Bombardment Squadron,
95th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
13 June 1943
Place of death
Baltic Sea, off the coast of Langeland Island, Denmark

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Stanley Piatkowski (father)
Katarina Piatkowski (mother)
Martha Piatkowski (sister)
Josephine Piatkowski (sister)
Edward Piatkowski (brother)
Irene Piatkowski (sister)
Leonard Piatkowski (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-29702
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Rat killer
Destination: Kiel, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Krupp Germaniawerft - U-boat yards
MACR: 4896

More information

S/Sgt Chester L. Piatkowski was employed as a cabinetmaker before he enlisted at Camp Grant, Illinois in 26 February 1942.

The aircraft was last seen over Kiel, Germany, at 54 to 55 degrees north latitude and 08 to 10 degrees east longitude. It was shot down by enemy fighters. The entire crew of ten men was killed.

Soon after the crash, only the bodies of McMurtry, Lambert, and Julliard were actually found. The remains of 1st Lt William Gimble Renaud washed ashore off the beach at Pagenkop, Langeland Island, on 7 January 1958. He is buried at the Ardennes American Cemetery, and also listed at the Walls of the Missing at Margraten.

The rest of the crew is still listed as missing in action.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card, 1920/1940 Census

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.fold3.com