Joseph Kotys

Military
media-44861.jpeg UPL 44861 Sgt Joseph Kotys, 384BG, 8AF.

USAAF Photo

Object Number - UPL 44861 - Sgt Joseph Kotys, 384BG, 8AF.

Joseph Kotys served as a tail gunner with the 546th Bomb Squadron of the 384th Bomb Group.28 x combat missions. After the war, he was a successful gymnast for Kent State University. Olympic games 1948. Won 1949 & 1950 NCAA all-around titles & four apparatus titles. 1955 Pan American Games on vault. Inducted into Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. 1976 USA Gymnast Hall of Fame 1978.





Awards: AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 384th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 493rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16117719
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: SJ, Spot Jammer, Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35757396
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: MOS 748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38459223
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: MOS 611 - Aerial Gunner Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14136271
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: MOS 757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2068295
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: 1034 - Navigator

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Nevada Avenger
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Little America II
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
The insignia of the 546th Bomb Squadron, 384th Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 385th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
Headshot of man wearing Air Force military uniform and hat.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Baby Judy : School Marm
  • Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 1 January 1945

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Olyphant, PA 31 October 1925 Son of Nellie Kotys.

Enlisted

aSS

Cleveland, OH, USA 6 March 1944 Residence: Undefined Code Private, No Branch Assignment

Enlisted

Cleveland, OH 6 March 1944 Cleveland, Ohio

Other

Assigned

Grafton Underwood NN14, UK 16 December 1944 Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group, 546th Bombardment Squadron on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #247 dated 16 December 1944, W Ramsay Crew. 28 combat missions.

Other

Crash Landing

Detling, Maidstone ME14, UK 1 January 1945 1/1/45 B-17 42-38014 BK-G, LITTLE AMERICA II - Crashed while landing at RAF Detling, Kent on return from mission with battle damage. Struck obstructions including a hut, destroying the aircraft. There were no personnel injuries. with Pilot - Walter E. Ramsay, Copilot - Harry L. Wahlstrom. Accident Report #45-01-01-521

Other

Reported to the 493rd Bomb Group from the 384th Bomb Group

29 June 1945 The 493rd BG already had its orders to relocate to the States and airmen from the 384th Bomb Group were assigned to the 493rd BG to be transported back to the States.

Other

Returned ZI

New York, NY, USA 31 August 1945 Arrived back in the States on the Queen Elizabeth

Died

Lady Lake, FL, USA 21 August 2012

Buried

Florida National Cemetery , Bushnell, Sumter County, FL 24 August 2012 Florida National Cemetery Bushnell Sumter County Florida, USA

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Details of 493rd Bomb Group records shared by David Schmitt, 493rd BG archival researcher in the States, and by Darren Jelley
493rd BG Museum archives UK: http://www.493bgdebach.co.uk

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://493bgdebach.co.uk/roster_list.php

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

AAIR 45-01-01-521 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…

Joseph Kotys: Gallery (2 items)