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name
JANIK, Frank Joe - Date of
birth
5 June 1923 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Antrim County, Michigan -
Hometown
Wayne County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36597649 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
704th Bombardment Squadron,
446th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Soldier's Medal,
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 October 1944 - Place of
death
Airbase Brustem
St. Trond, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| H | 9 | 3 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Walter Janik (father)
Victoria Janik (mother)
Theodore Janik (brother)
Lottie Janik (sister)
Theresa Janik (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
41-29128 -
Data
Nickname: Lady Luck
Type: B-24H
Destination: Cologne, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
More information
The aircraft was being flown by 1st Lt Glen E. Rowe and his crew on Mission 171 to Cologne when it was hit by flak crossing the Rhine on the return. #4 Engine was lost immediately and #1 went out ten minutes later. Both were feathered and, as the plane was losing altitude, the crew threw out guns, ammunition, etc. Lt Rowe decided to land on St. Trond airfield. On the approach, realizing he was landing long, he tried to go round again but the plane crashed, ripping off the landing gear and fire broke out in the bomb bay and fore of this. Lt Rowe and the tail gunner, S/Sgt Howington were killed and the radio operator, T/Sgt Frank J. Janik, is believed to have suffocated.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.b24bestweb.com, www.ancestry.com - U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / 1930/1940 Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, American Air Museum