Joseph J Pavelko
Military ROLL OF HONOURU. S. Army Air Forces
B-24 Aerial Gunner
KIA= 22 DEC 1943 onboard B-24 #42-7554 "Tail End Charlie"
Crashed into the cemetery in Mrins, Netherlands after coming under attack by German fighters.
A. L. DESTRO II
B-24 - #42-7554 - 8th AF, 445th BG, 702nd BS - stationed in NOV 1943 at RAF Tibenham.
Crashed into the cemetery in Mirns, Friesland, the Netherlands on 22 DEC 1943, killing 7 of the 10 crew.
Story written about the crash in MAR 2015 by Mr. Jaap Halma
http://www.heritageleague.org/brian/54.pdf
11 NOV 2015 Commemoration ceremony photos:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/b-24_liberator_42-7554/albums
11 NOV 2015 YouTube video of event:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVpI3Tf-GWc
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33325811
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Asst Engineer / Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: # 14165120
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 359th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13033692
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: # 34351234
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: # 35371021
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Died |
22 December 1943 | 22 DEC 1943 in Mirns, Netherlands. His B-24 crashed into a cemetery. | |
Born |
Pennsylvania | 1924 | |
Buried |
Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, The Netherlands, M 10 14 |
Revisions
I have the complete and accurate story, see links below. My uncle was the Bombardier
My uncle was the Bombardier onboard
http://media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-2946.pdf
The PIC/Pilot of #42-7554 "Tail End Charlie" crashed in Mirns, Holland 22 DEC 1943...my uncle was the Bombardier
Verified from original copy from Ancestry.com on his burial certificate states awarded purple heart
Birsic, ABMC, 2AD Honor Roll / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia