Edward Michael Kaminski
MilitaryLoad List from National Archives
Assigned to 730th Squadron.
First mission, of thirty-three combat missions, was on 28-Mar-44. The 452nd BG were to bomb German occupied airfield, Chateaudun, France. A combined force of 191 B-17's from 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 452BG left from England to bomb 2 airfield and shipyards. Passionate Witch II 42-32082 and Kickapoo Joy Juice 42-97200 from the 452nd BG both received direct hits by flak. 42-32082 right wing broke off and spun out of control. 42-97200 broke apart and exploded. There were total of seven survivors.
On 12-Apr-44 42-31334 had a mechanical fault en-route to target, aircraft stalled and broke up, ditched in the North Sea, off Clacton, Essex. Pilot, Leland Evers; Navigator, Jules Jacobs; Bombardier, Gene Tully; Radio Operator, Stan Folcik (body was found in Channel 26-Jun-44 and buried, Brookwood, UK); Ball turret gunner, Fred Barnes; and Tail gunner, Bob Langheier (all 6 Killed in Action).
Flight engineer/top turret gunner Bob Givens plunged 12,000 feet before his ‘chute opened. 4 Returned (RTD) - Co-pilot, Ed Kaminsky; Waist gunner, Willis Junnila; Waist gunner, Matt Hunter and Givens - picked up by RAF Walrus L2289 of 277 Sqd off Orfordness, Suffolk.
Missing Air Crew Report 3933. "THREE CADS AND A LAD".
Kaminski witnessed both devastating experiences which will be forever in his memory. He returned home September 1944.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31201739
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner / Nose Gunner / Toggelier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-751640
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 18058602
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19129763 / O-764631
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17069542
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 29 January 1945
- Date: 28 March 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Clinton, MA | 29 September 1921 | |
Enlisted |
Houston, TX | 28 May 1942 | Houston, Texas |
Other Returned (RTD) |
North Sea | 12 April 1944 | Ditched North Sea, 12-Apr-44. RTD |
Revisions
Added a "Returned (RTD)" event per info in the "Summary biography".
1999 Unit Roster / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia;
"Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Bishop & Hey.
Added the words "Possible DUPLICATE" in the nickname field so an Admin can check out this person.
Carolyn 'Cally' Boatwright, 452nd Bomb Group Association