Walter John Kwoka
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Object Number - UPL 44562 - The stele in Brix, France in memory of the 9 crew members who were killed in the crash of B-17 #42-37890 on 20 March 1944. “They gave their lives...
Shot down 20 April 1944 in B-17 #42-37890 "Big Friend". Killed in Action (KIA).
Connections
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Units served with
- 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: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12037589
- Highest Rank: Corporal
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13081862 at enlistment, then O-756939
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 11114262
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14068980 at enlistment, then O-677820
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13118691
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Rovin’ romona ii/big friend
- Unit: 390th Bomb Group 568th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 20 April 1944
Places
![A bomber crew of the 390th Bomb Group with their B-17 Flying Fortress ( serial number 42-31027) nicknamed "Honey Chile" and their dog and monkey mascots "Scrappy" and "Joe". Image stamped on reverse: ‘Fox.’ [stamp], ‘passed for publication 25 Oct 1943.’ [stamp] and ‘289774.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ‘AERIAL MASCOTS OF FORTRESS CREWS. PH/MoN. As frisky and friendly a pair of aerial mascots as you'll find in Britain are "Scrappy" and "Joe", pup and monkey team belonging to the](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-380433.jpg.webp?itok=L7HbOA_i)
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Parham
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Chicago, Illinois, USA | 17 September 1919 | |
|
Enlisted |
1 April 1942 | Chicago, Illinois | |
|
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
Brix, near Valognes, France | 20 April 1944 | In the crash of B-17 #42-37890 Brix, 6km NW of Valognes, 20km SE of Cherbourg, France |
|
Buried |
24 April 1944 | at the English cemetery in Cherbourg, France | |
| Chicago, Illinois | |||
|
Buried |
Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial | after the war, his remains were brought to Normandy. Walter Kwoka rests at Plot D, Row 4, Grave 12 |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 4169 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database