Assigned to 586BS, 394BG, 9AF USAAF. Fatal Mid Air Collision over Epinoy, crashed Killed in Action (KIA). 18-Dec-44.



Awards: PH.



"Albin was an only child and the last male of his family to bear the family name, Gaj. As such he could have gotten a draft deferment to avoid military service by instead volunteered to become a flyer. He trained in Syracuse NY and also Louisiana. He was killed on his first mission in a mid air collision, which was a great hazard for first time crews. His surviving siblings were Millie, Felixa, Aniela, Stephanie, and Alicia. Many of his nieces and nephews born in later years were in part named after him. He was described as being a kind gentle man. As a child and being the only son, he was called the little prince. His parents never fully recovered from news of their son's death. His funeral was held at St Mary's Church in Ware, the parish to which he belonged and which was in part built my his parents, Polish immigrants. Before the funeral an honor guard met the body in New Haven CT and escorted it back to Ware. The body laid in state at St Mary's Church accompanied by an all night vigil. The funeral was organized by the town's World War One Vets, and Boy Scouts formed part of the Honor Guard. To this day his surviving family and descendants remember and honor his sacrifice against the scourge of Hitler and the Nazis."