Charles Francis Awrajcewicz

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
media-34564.jpeg UPL 34564 Portrait of Charles Awrajcewicz of 305th Bomb Group Charles Awrajcewicz collection

uploaded on behalf of Brad Markell, Grandson

Object Number - UPL 34564 - Portrait of Charles Awrajcewicz of 305th Bomb Group

Charles F Awrajcewicz served between June 1942 and the fatal training flight on 31 August 1943 - mid-air collision with Beaufighter Serial V8715 of RAF 75 Squadron. He had flown in over 25 missions, both daylight and night bombing ones. He originally flew with the crew of "Black Swan" (42-29641), then flew on 10 missions with "We The People" (41-24614), "Windy City Challenger" (42-3049), "Centaur" (42-29555) and lastly with "Eager Eagle" (42-5376). Only 2 of the 10-man crew survived.



3 Bronze stars with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters. Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13031062 / O-660322
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner

Aircraft

Staff Sergeant James L. Stafford, tail gunner, cleans the twin .50 calibre machine-guns in the tail turret of his 422nd Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (JJ-Y, serial number 42-29555). Passed for publication 21 Apr 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'JJ-Y, 305BG.' Printed caption on reverse: 'No. 11. Photo Shows: S/Sergt. James L. Stafford from Cisco, Texas, the tail gunner cleans his guns. He is credited with three Nazis.' Censor no: 259779. On reverse: Planet News Ltd., US Army Pr
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Centaur
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
Ground crew work on the engine of a 422nd Bomb Squadron, 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortress (JJ-V, serial number 42-29641) nicknamed "Black Swan" at Chelveston airfield in late June 1943. Passed for publication 4 Jul 1943. Handwritten caption on reverse: '229641.' Printed caption on reverse: 'At A Flying Fortresses Base In Britain. This series of pictures shows scenes at a U.S. air base in Britain where Flying Fortresses are repaired, the scars torn in their sides - the price of victorious combats - pa
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Eager Eagle
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New Haven, Connecticut 24 October 1918

Enlisted

Hartford, Connecticut, United States 18 June 1942 as a Private

Died

Foulsham, Dereham County, Norfolk, United Kingdom 31 August 1943 In mid-air collison with an RAF Beaufighter Serial V8715 over Foulsham, Norfolk County, England. 42-5376 was on a Night Cross Country navigation flight. The pilot of the Beaufighter was RAF 75 Squadron Leader Edward Robert Myddleton APPLETON, observer on board the Baeufighter, was also killed.

Buried

New Haven, Connecticut Saint Lawrence Cemetery

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Correspondence with Brad Markell, grandson:
'My granddad, Charles Francis Awrajewicz, served btwn June '42-Aug.31st and [flew] well over 25 missions.'

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Corrected spelling of surname from '' to 'Awrajcewicz'.
See enlistment record: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=WR26&t…

Added Charles F Awrajcewicz's name to the digital Roll of Honour in the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford.

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

NARA WWII Enlistment records
WW II Registry entry at http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=226008…
Burial location: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=AWRAJCEWICZ&GSbyr…;
Accident report in MACR file

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / relative, documents, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 259

Charles Francis Awrajcewicz: Gallery (5 items)