Joe Flajnik, B-26 gunner, 320th BG

[TBMflyer]

 

The below grouping are the AAF items of Joseph Flajnik, who was a distant cousin of my mom. I remember meeting him once or twice, he was a quiet man who kept to himself. When he passed away, he left his estate to the convent where both of his sisters (nuns) were stationed. Luckily for me, the nun in charge of the estate was a former teacher of mine, I contacted her and in exchange for helping clean out the house, I was given all his military items. Joe was married briefly after the war but never had children.

 

When I was handed the box with the items I was more than thrilled and I hope you will enjoy his story and items below.

 

Joe was born in Joliet, Illinois in 1916, after graduating high school, he went to work at Moore Company as a molder, the company made stoves. When the war started, the 26 year old Joe soon enlisted and reported for duty at Camp Grant.

After basic training, he became a clerk-typist in the 306th BS (D) at Hunter Field in Georgia. He must have wanted to get in the air because he soon changed his MOS to Aircraft Armorer/Gunner, having gotten his wings at Ft. Myers Gunnery School.  Those Air Corps guys sure got the girls!

He was promoted to S/Sgt in April of 1943 and stayed with the 306th until he got his orders for overseas. He shipped out of the ZI in November of ’43 and reached the MTO at the end of the month. He was then assigned to the 443rd BS (M), 320th BG, part of the 12th AF then based in Sardinia. He was eventually assigned to the crew of Lt. Robert Lyday and on the 29th of December, flew the first of his 57 combat missions.

 

[TBMflyer]

Joe was the squadron bartender at the 443rd EM Club. He is also shown here at Decimomannu on Sardinia.

 

The B-26’s of the 320th were flying mostly tactical and interdiction missions to Northern Italy, bombing marshalling yards, railroad bridges, viaducts. He also flew missions in support of the Anzio beachhead. B-26's from his squadron bomb targets in Italy.

 

 

[TBMflyer]

On June 5th flying his 39th mission, he was wounded in the elbow by flak and didn’t fly again for almost 3 weeks. He was back in the air on June 22nd. Shown below are the telegrams from the war department, the J. A. Ulio follow up letter and a telegram and article that appeared in the Chicago Sun newspaper. The other news article was from the Joliet Herald News or Joliet Spectator paper.

[TBMflyer]

Some of his later missions in August were in support of Operation Dragoon, bombing gun positions in St. Tropez, Montpelier and Tarascon. On August 29, exactly 8 months after his first mission, he flew his last, a 9 hour mission to bomb the San Dona di Piave railroad bridge, in Northern Italy. His final tally of missions include 57 combat missions, 8 missions as spare aircraft, 1 weather mission and 2 aborts for a total of 287.40 combat hours. Pictured here is the strike photo from the mission he was wounded on on June 5 on the Reiti Rail Bridge. There are several of the squadron mission line ups in the group as well.

[TBMflyer]

Pictured below are close ups of his hand painted squadron patch of the 443rd, medals, wings and insignia. The bullion 12th patch was given to me by my uncle who collected in WWII and had it given to him by Joe, back in the fold so to speak. Of note in the first two pictures is the photo of him taken in civvies for his escape kit.

[TBMflyer]

While he was overseas, his father received letters from the Govorner of Illinois and the US Senator from the state as well, Not sure how many of these are around?

[TBMflyer]

After his promotion to T/Sgt, he stayed with the unit on non-flying status until early October and finally got back to the US on the 22nd of that month. After some leave in Joliet and rehabilitation in Florida, he was sent to Lowery Field in Colorado for some advanced training in aircraft turrets. He stayed at Lowery field then as an instructor on B-24’s. In late March he was sent to Yuma Gunnery School and stayed there until he was sent to Moore Field in Texas for out-processing prior to discharge. He came home to Illinois and was honorably discharged on Sept 8, 1945 at Fort Sheridan.

The transmittal letter for his battle stars, awards and unit citations is hand typed and was issued at Moore Field. Of note is that his Purple Heart is not mentioned there but is on his discharge.

 

[TBMflyer]

Joe lived the rest of his life in Joliet and passed away in 2001. Although I barely knew him, I try to honor his memory and his brave service in the AAF. Blue skies Joe!

Here are a few other photos which I failed to add in the proper place in the above narrative, doh!

The B-26's are on a mission over the Appenines, Joe flew several missions in a/c #67.

Also pictured are his gunnery school certificate and a photo of him in front of what I believe is a DC-5?

Thanks for looking, Mark

 

[Dirk]

Excellent thread! His things are in good hands and his memory will be kept alive.

[decwriter]

Thanks for sharing this.  I have an appreciation for the medium bombardment crew members and their contribution to  the air campaigns. The original official documents are great along with the photos. 

[Allan H.]

Mark,

 

This is just a super group. Congratulations on being able to keep in in the family. Thanks for sharing it with us. I have really enjoyed the presentation.

 

Allan

[katieony]

Really great group!

[GIKyle]

Mark,

 

Thanks for posting this exceptional group.  Appreciate both the detailed photos along with well-placed captions.  

 

Kyle 

[KASTAUFFER]

Mark

 

Thanks for sharing this group. Glad to see its in your hands,

 

Kurt

[TBMflyer]

Thanks everyone for the compliments, it is a group that I look at almost every day, in the 'family' section of the war room. The medium bomber guys seem to get overlooked when it comes to AAF collecting, I have another vet from town who was in the same group. I do like B-25's and B-26's!

Mark