Paul Jones Stach
Military
Object Number - UPL 28126 - L-R: Captain Neely, Captain Paul J Stach. 453BS, 323BG, 9AF.
Assigned to 453BS 323BG, 9AF USAAF. 65 x combat missions. Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Caen Road Junctions C-1 and C-2, France 6-Jun-44. Major Stach was in the aircraft leading Box III on the afternoon en route to the target, when it was hit by flak near Mezidon, France.
Hit by at least three flak hits in bomb bay and wing, A/C moved out of formation allowing crew to bale out, went into spin and exploded on impact. Major Stach was seen standing in the cockpit with the escape hatch open, flames streaming from it. He never made it out. Killed in Action (KIA). MACR 5527.
Awards: DSC, DFC, AM (10OLC), PH, EAME (1 x battle star).
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 323rd Bomb Group 453rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19077239
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/gunner
Aircraft
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Fort Bend County, Texas | 14 December 1917 | Son of Frank and Stefanie [Halta] Stach. |
|
Enlisted |
Warren, Mineral Wells, TX 76067, USA | 15 July 1941 | Camp Wolters, Texas |
|
Died |
14270 Mézidon-Canon, France | 6 June 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) mission to Caen, France 6-Jun-44. hit by at least three flak hits in bomb bay and wing, moved out of formation allowing crew to bale out, went into spin and exploded on impact. KIA. MACR 5527. |
|
Buried |
Mézidon, France | 7 June 1944 | Interred Mézidon cemetery |
|
Based |
Earls Colne | 6 June 1944 | Assigned to 453BS 323BG, 9AF USAAF. |
|
Buried |
Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial | Re-Interred Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial | |
|
Buried |
Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery San Antonio Bexar County TX | Re-Interred Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery San Antonio Bexar County Texas, USA |
Revisions
Received DSC under GO #38, Hq. European Theater of Opr. 3-17-45 Missing in Action
Changes to awards in Bio Field
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63652649/paul-jones-stach
NARA files verified DFC and AM w/10 Oak Leaf Clusters. He earned at least one bronze star device on the EAME Campaign Medal.
Combat Chronology, WWII Memorial, Marauder Men / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia