Edward Michael Kaminski

Military
media-55030.png UPL 55030 Load list showing crew of the Silver Shed House on 5 Sep 1944 that were involved in the midair collision. It was my dad's (Jack P. Farnham CP) first mission. The plane was repaired and my dad flew this plane on his next four missions. He flew the Silver Shed House a total of eight times out of his 35 missions, which included his last mission on 3 Feb 1945 Target: Berlin.

Load List from National Archives

Object Number - UPL 55030 - Load list showing crew of the Silver Shed House on 5 Sep 1944 that were involved in the midair collision. It was my dad's (Jack P. Farnham CP) first...

Assigned to 730th Squadron.



First mission, of thirty-three combat missions, was on 28-Mar-44. The 452nd BG were to bomb German occupied airfield, Chateaudun, France. A combined force of 191 B-17's from 94BG; 95BG; 96BG; 100BG; 385BG; 388BG; 390BG; 447BG; and 452BG left from England to bomb 2 airfield and shipyards. Passionate Witch II 42-32082 and Kickapoo Joy Juice 42-97200 from the 452nd BG both received direct hits by flak. 42-32082 right wing broke off and spun out of control. 42-97200 broke apart and exploded. There were total of seven survivors.



On 12-Apr-44 42-31334 had a mechanical fault en-route to target, aircraft stalled and broke up, ditched in the North Sea, off Clacton, Essex. Pilot, Leland Evers; Navigator, Jules Jacobs; Bombardier, Gene Tully; Radio Operator, Stan Folcik (body was found in Channel 26-Jun-44 and buried, Brookwood, UK); Ball turret gunner, Fred Barnes; and Tail gunner, Bob Langheier (all 6 Killed in Action).



Flight engineer/top turret gunner Bob Givens plunged 12,000 feet before his ‘chute opened. 4 Returned (RTD) - Co-pilot, Ed Kaminsky; Waist gunner, Willis Junnila; Waist gunner, Matt Hunter and Givens - picked up by RAF Walrus L2289 of 277 Sqd off Orfordness, Suffolk.



Missing Air Crew Report 3933. "THREE CADS AND A LAD".



Kaminski witnessed both devastating experiences which will be forever in his memory. He returned home September 1944.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 452nd Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 31201739
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner / Nose Gunner / Toggelier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-751640
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18058602
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19129763 / O-764631
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17069542
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Silver Shed House
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron
A B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31334) nicknamed "Three Cads and a Lad" of the 452nd Bomb Group.
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Three Cads And A Lad
  • Unit: 452nd Bomb Group 730th Bomb Squadron

Missions

  • Date: 29 January 1945

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Clinton, MA 29 September 1921

Enlisted

Houston, TX 28 May 1942 Houston, Texas

Other

Returned (RTD)

North Sea 12 April 1944 Ditched North Sea, 12-Apr-44. RTD

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added a "Returned (RTD)" event per info in the "Summary biography".

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added punctuation to the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.

Date
Changes
Sources

1999 Unit Roster / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia;
"Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces", Bishop & Hey.

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added the words "Possible DUPLICATE" in the nickname field so an Admin can check out this person.

Date
Changes
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Cally Boatwright, 452nd BGA

Date
Changes
Sources

Carolyn 'Cally' Boatwright, 452nd Bomb Group Association

Edward Michael Kaminski: Gallery (1 items)