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Personal info

Full name
LAWINSKI, Joseph Peter
Date of birth
7 January 1919
Age
25
Place of birth
Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Hometown
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania

Military service

Service number
O-681909
Rank
First Lieutenant
Function
Bombardier
Unit
346th Bombardment Squadron,
99th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
12 April 1944
Place of death
Zwölfaxing, Austria

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Lorraine
Plot Row Grave
D 13 35

Immediate family

Members
Victor Lawinski (father)
Bertha P. Lawinski (mother)
Thomas Lawinski (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
42-38210
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Fischamend Markt, Austria
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft factories
MACR: 3955

More information

1st Lt Joseph P. Lawinski attended high school for 4 years and was a shipping and receiving clerk before he enlisted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 19 April 1941.

S/Sgt Francis G. Cresser:
"I was flying as tail gunner in B-17G 42-32068 on a mission 12 April 1944. The B-17G 42-38210 was flying our right wing. At approximately 1230 hours 210 appeared to be hit by flak and his left wing was in flame. This happened just after its bomb bay doors had closed. He peeled away from the formation and later I saw five chutes open up. His altitude was approximately 20,000 at the time he was hit."

S/Sgt Jack A. Reynolds:
"After talking to Lt Pearlman, I imagine the bombardier either got blown out without a chute pack on, or was killed in the explosion."

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com, www.newspapers.com - The Philadelphia Inquirer Pennsylvania 25 May 1944, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAAFCombatOperations/Apr.44.html
Photo source: -