Donald E Cielewich Sr
MilitaryFirst mission returned with 197 holes in aircraft from bullets/shrapnel. Shot down over Germany on 14 August 1944 in B-17 #42-3413 'Hard Luck' on third mission. Captured by a German farmer who turned him over to the SS. The farmer gave him a raw egg since he had not eaten for five days. The farmer was given hard labor for doing this. Cielewich kept the egg and it was discovered by the SS. Remained a Prisoner of War (POW) for nine months. After the war Donald had a career in banking. He was also on the Delaware Board of Education, a member of the Chamber of Commerce and on the state Boards of Blue Cross/Blue Shield and the American Cancer Society. His death was reported in the Fall 1990 edition of 'Splasher Six'.
POW
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
![Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378743.jpg.webp?itok=HBB0lqjl)
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33053006
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-559633
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-703360
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35224797
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32926389
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Hard Luck !
- Unit: 100th Bomb Group 350th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Prisoner of war camp
- Known as: Stalag 7a, Moosburg
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Died |
26 July 1990 | ||
|
Born |
Luxemburg, Wisconsin, USA | ||
|
Buried |
Wilmington, Delaware | ||
|
Other Prisoner of War (POW) |
Moosburg, Germany | 14 August 1944 | Stalag 7A Moosburg Bavaria 48-12 (Work Camps 3324-46 Krumbachstrasse 48011, Work Camp 3368 Munich 48-11) |
Revisions
Added POW Camp info to the POW event and a S/N from WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added an association to Stalag 7A per WW2 POW records at the National Archives (NARA).
Added an association to the 100th BG listed in the A/C #42-3413 description section.
Added a "-" to the A/C tail # in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity & consistency.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 7899 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / son, Scott Cielewich; MACR 7899