Walter V Olowniuk
Military![A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-380140.jpg.webp?itok=pZLjNIgO)
Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before they take off on the great Ruhr raid- six airmen who together represent 100 operations against the Nazis.
Left to right: front row
Lieut Fred D Albert, of Bronx NY navigator;
Lieut Theodore J Kleuser, of Little Rock Arkansas, co-pilot;
Lieut Ruel Weikert, of Dayton Ohio, pilot and commander of the aircraft.
Second row:
Tech. Sgt Darwin Mushrush, of Castaque, Pa; top turret gunner and engineer;
Lieut Tom Betow, of Marion, Wisconsin, bombardier.
Back row: Tech Sgt Walter Olowniuk of Detroit, Mich; radio gunner.
NC 6th November 1943. PN.' Roger Freeman Collection
Correcting spelling of Olowniuk
Object Number - FRE 1386 - A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6...
Shot down 5 December 1943 in B-17 #42-3397 'Fighting Cock'. Plane crashed into Bay of Biscay. Heading back to France with #3 engine on fire. With crew in dinghies, German shore patrol fired at dinghies and 7 crew members died. Kleuser crew. Prisoner of War (POW).
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
![A bomber crew of the 385th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress. Image stamped on reverse: 'Planet News.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 6 Nov 1943.' [stamp] and '291701.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: Printed caption on reverse: 'US AIRFORCE IN GREAT DAYLIGHT OFFENSIVE ON EUROPE. The great daylight offensive on Europe continues, targets in Germany, France and Belgium being attacked by great formations of bombers and fighters from the US Army Air Force and the RAF. Photo shows: Before t](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380140.jpg.webp?itok=3DyNylCs)
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
Aircraft
![Two B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 385th Bomb Group fly over the Alps during a mission. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 6 Sep 1943.' [stamp] and '282477.' [Censor no.] Handwritten caption on reverse: '42-3397 'Fightin' Cock; over Alps. Liferaft door open, battle damage.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380160.jpg.webp?itok=cMZ3epKp)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Fighting Cock
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 551st Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Detroit, Michigan, USA | 27 October 1918 | |
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
France | 5 December 1943 | |
|
Died |
Warren, MI, USA | 19 January 2016 | Aged 97 |
Revisions
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
MACR 2164, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol I byBishop & Hey pp. 408-9 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2164 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database