Joseph R Adamiak

Military

A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B-17 Flying Fortress . Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Back at their home base in the 'plane which went to pick them up, the five survivors of the Flying Fortress "Little Twink" talk over their experience. They are (left to right): Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adami

media-413392.jpg FRE 4712 A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B-17 Flying Fortress . Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress" Men Killed In Parachute Jump After "Biggest Ever" Day Raid On Germany. Associated Press Photo Shows:- Back at their home base in the 'plane which went to pick them up, the five survivors of the Flying Fortress "Little Twink" talk over their experience. They are (left to right): Sgt. Seymour Zeitler, gunner, of 145 Amherst St. Brooklyn, N.Y.; Lt. Joseph Adamiak, pilot, of 297 Elm Street, Holyoke, Mass.; Sgt. Cleo Davis, radio-gunner, of 463 Laurel Street, Chillicothe, Ohio; Lt. Wm. Kelder, Bombardier, of Cuddebackville, N.Y.; Cap[t.] L.B. Roper, Squadron Operations Officer, of Buller, Texas (who flew them home); and Lt. Wm. Crockett, Jr., co-pilot, of Buna, Texas. WOR 263574/5. 1-1-44-Y.' Censor no: 298323. On reverse: Associated Press and US Army General Section Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 4712 - A bomber crew of the 351st Bomb Group inside a B-17 Flying Fortress . Passed for publication 1 Jan 1944. Printed caption on reverse: 'Five "Fortress"...

30 December 1943 on mission to IGF factory at Ludwigshaven. In B-17 #42-39780 'Little Twink'

On bomb run, A/C hit by flak and lost #3 engine. Hit by flak again over Frankfurt and unable to keep in formation, RAF escorted A/C to Hawkinge where A/C crash landed. Unfortunately only 7 crew members baled out but parachutes failed to open, 5 KIA, 5 RTD.