Charles Francis Awrajcewicz
Military ROLL OF HONOURuploaded on behalf of Brad Markell, Grandson
Charles F Awrajcewicz served between June 1942 and the fatal training flight on 31 August 1943 - mid-air collision with Beaufighter Serial V8715 of RAF 75 Squadron. He had flown in over 25 missions, both daylight and night bombing ones. He originally flew with the crew of "Black Swan" (42-29641), then flew on 10 missions with "We The People" (41-24614), "Windy City Challenger" (42-3049), "Centaur" (42-29555) and lastly with "Eager Eagle" (42-5376). Only 2 of the 10-man crew survived.
3 Bronze stars with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters. Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters.
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: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13031062 / O-660322
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Centaur
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Eager Eagle
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
New Haven, Connecticut | 24 October 1918 | |
Enlisted |
Hartford, Connecticut, United States | 18 June 1942 | as a Private |
Died |
Foulsham, Dereham County, Norfolk, United Kingdom | 31 August 1943 | In mid-air collison with an RAF Beaufighter Serial V8715 over Foulsham, Norfolk County, England. 42-5376 was on a Night Cross Country navigation flight. The pilot of the Beaufighter was RAF 75 Squadron Leader Edward Robert Myddleton APPLETON, observer on board the Baeufighter, was also killed. |
Buried |
New Haven, Connecticut | Saint Lawrence Cemetery |
Revisions
Correspondence with Brad Markell, grandson:
'My granddad, Charles Francis Awrajewicz, served btwn June '42-Aug.31st and [flew] well over 25 missions.'
Corrected spelling of surname from '' to 'Awrajcewicz'.
See enlistment record: https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=WR26&t…
Added Charles F Awrajcewicz's name to the digital Roll of Honour in the American Air Museum at IWM Duxford.
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WW II Registry entry at http://www.wwiimemorial.com/registry/search/pframe.asp?HonoreeID=226008…
Burial location: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=AWRAJCEWICZ&GSbyr…;
Accident report in MACR file
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / relative, documents, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 259