Leo T Bartczak

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 34th Bomb Group inside a hangar. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'B-17 Yellow Hangar.' media-387820.jpg FRE 5459 A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 34th Bomb Group inside a hangar. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'B-17 Yellow Hangar.'
Note: This slide is shown reversed. The truck should be facing the left of the picture.
Update 23/08/15. Location is Mendlesham at the south entrance to the western T2 hangar. The hangar still exists as part of an industrial complex.
The aircraft is the 'Missbehaven Raven' tail code 43-38280 . Close analysis of the nose shows a white swastika above the cheek gun. The 'Valour to Victory' website lists the aircraft's ball turret gunner as being credited with a kill on 2nd March 1945. Additional bomb tallies plus daisies in the grass suggest this photograph is April 1945.
Wing sections in the foreground plus inside the hangar entrance (note fuel cell) suggest multiple aircraft structure repairs are happening here. Note the support jack near the propeller.
Aircraft was involved in a propwash incident on 5th April 1945. The aircraft didn't fly again until 10th April 1945 which was quite a break in missions. It's a reasonable assumption to say this photograph was taken in that 5 day period, especially as no further damage reported after this time period thus little need for entry into a hangar.
The incident on 5th April resulted in 3 crew bailing out at 20,000ft. 2nd Lieutenant Leo T Bartczak was killed probably attempting to bail out. He is buried in Madingley American Cemetery. Roger Freeman Collection

Data taken from 'Valour to Victory' along with some original research.

Object Number - FRE 5459 - A B-17 Flying Fortress of the 34th Bomb Group inside a hangar. Image via Mark Brown, AFA. Written on slide casing: 'B-17 Yellow Hangar.' Note: This...

Killed in Action (KIA) 5 April 1945.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 34th Bomb Group
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
The insignia of the 7th Bomb Squadron, 34th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Events

Event Location Date Description

Died

5 April 1945

Born

Massachusetts

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / H. Province, Roll of Honor

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