Joseph Kotys
MilitaryUSAAF Photo
Joseph Kotys served as a tail gunner with the 546th Bomb Squadron of the 384th Bomb Group.28 x combat missions. After the war, he was a successful gymnast for Kent State University. Olympic games 1948. Won 1949 & 1950 NCAA all-around titles & four apparatus titles. 1955 Pan American Games on vault. Inducted into Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. 1976 USA Gymnast Hall of Fame 1978.
Awards: AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- 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: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16117719
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: SJ, Spot Jammer, Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35757396
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: MOS 748 - Army Airplane Mechanic / Gunner, Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38459223
- Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
- Role/Job: MOS 611 - Aerial Gunner Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14136271
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: MOS 757 - Radio Operator / Mechanic / Gunner, AAF
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-2068040
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Nevada Avenger
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron 547th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Little America II
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 545th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 385th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 546th Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Baby Judy : School Marm
- Unit: 384th Bomb Group 544th Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 January 1945
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Olyphant, PA | 31 October 1925 | Son of Nellie Kotys. |
Enlisted aSS |
Cleveland, OH, USA | 6 March 1944 | Residence: Undefined Code Private, No Branch Assignment |
Enlisted |
Cleveland, OH | 6 March 1944 | Cleveland, Ohio |
Other Assigned |
Grafton Underwood NN14, UK | 16 December 1944 | Assigned to the 384th Bombardment Group, 546th Bombardment Squadron on AAF Station 106 Special Orders #247 dated 16 December 1944, W Ramsay Crew. 28 combat missions. |
Other Crash Landing |
Detling, Maidstone ME14, UK | 1 January 1945 | 1/1/45 B-17 42-38014 BK-G, LITTLE AMERICA II - Crashed while landing at RAF Detling, Kent on return from mission with battle damage. Struck obstructions including a hut, destroying the aircraft. There were no personnel injuries. with Pilot - Walter E. Ramsay, Copilot - Harry L. Wahlstrom. Accident Report #45-01-01-521 |
Other Reported to the 493rd Bomb Group from the 384th Bomb Group |
29 June 1945 | The 493rd BG already had its orders to relocate to the States and airmen from the 384th Bomb Group were assigned to the 493rd BG to be transported back to the States. | |
Other Returned ZI |
New York, NY, USA | 31 August 1945 | Arrived back in the States on the Queen Elizabeth |
Died |
Lady Lake, FL, USA | 21 August 2012 | |
Buried |
Florida National Cemetery , Bushnell, Sumter County, FL | 24 August 2012 | Florida National Cemetery Bushnell Sumter County Florida, USA |
Revisions
Details of 493rd Bomb Group records shared by David Schmitt, 493rd BG archival researcher in the States, and by Darren Jelley
493rd BG Museum archives UK: http://www.493bgdebach.co.uk
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / http://493bgdebach.co.uk/roster_list.php
AAIR 45-01-01-521 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / http://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/PersonnelSearch.php?LastName=…