Edwin Joseph Sliwa

Military ROLL OF HONOUR

Crew member B-24 liberator 41-11768 'Kickapoo' of 344th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. Crashed shortly after take-off for the August 1, 43 low-level Ploesti, Romania mission. She lost an engine just after getting airborne and then caught fire while banking back toward the field to land, then a wing touched the ground and she smashed into a concrete pole and burst into flames. Killed in Action (KIA).



Awards: AM, EAME, American Campaign and American Defense Medals, PH.



Due to the abort after take-off and subsequent crash, Lt. Nespor's crew did not receive mission credit and their names do not appear in the official AAF History Roster of Personnel for DFCs.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 93rd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18051855 / O-435980
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: - Kickapoo
  • Unit: 98th Bomb Group 344th Bomb Squadron

Missions

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Illinois, USA 18 September 1918 Son of Sophie Sliwa.

Enlisted

Chicago, IL 11 June 1941 Chicago, Illinois

Other

Killed in action

Benghazi, Libya 1 August 1943 Crew member B-24 liberator 41-11768 'Kickapoo' of 344th BS, 98th BG, 9th AF. Crashed shortly after take-off for the August 1, 43 low-level Ploesti, Romania mission. She lost an engine just after getting airborne and then caught fire while banking back toward the field to land, then a wing touched the ground and she smashed into a concrete pole and burst into flames. KIA.

Buried

Fort Scott National Cemetery Fort Scott, Bourbon County KS 27 July 1948 Fort Scott National Cemetery Fort Scott, Bourbon County Kansas, USA.

Based

Assigned

Benina 1 August 1943 Assigned to 344BS, 98BG, 9AF USAAF.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes
Date
Contributordecwriter
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Sources

Added to awards and bio entry.

Date
Changes
Sources

Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- Ted's Traveling Circus

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
Changes