Roman R. Pajakowski was a World War 2 veteran and POW.
Roman R. Pajakowski.
Roman R Pajakowski, 54, of 422 N. Blaine, died at 9 30 a m Thursday in the Memorial Hospital after a two-month illness Pajakowski was a director of sales for ITT Building Services, he worked there 12 years.
Born on March 31, 1921, in South Bend, he had lived here his lifetime.
On April 15, 1944, m South Bend, he mairred Henrietta I Lewinski. who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Mark D, at home; two daughters, Phyllis of South Bend and Mrs. Ann Mane (Marie) Wrotge (Rotge)of Muncie, lnd.; three brothers, Casimir J , Leo and Ernest, all of South Bend, and two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Krol of South Bend and Mrs. Teresa Varda of Wyckoff, NJ Services will be at 10 a m Tuesday in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
Rev. Casimir Garbarz, C.S.C., pastor, will officiate Burial will be in St Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 to 9 p.m. Monday in the Kamiewski and Sons Funeral Home.
He was a World War II Air Force veteran.
The South Bend Tribune
South Bend, Indiana
Fri, May 23, 1975
Page 26
Roman was a crew member of the B-17 "Hurry Home" 43-37818.
MACR (Missing Air Crew Report) 9401 reports that on September 26, 1944, at 1610 hours, the "Hurry Home" took a direct flak hit in the right wing just after bombs away.
Eyewitness statements in the MACR report as follows: "This aircraft flew #3 in the 2nd lead element squadron of the low group of 4A wing. This group bombed Bremerhaven as a last resort target. Aircraft # 818 received a direct flak hit over target just after bombs away. At 1610 hours this aircraft was observed to be on fire with the entire right wing ablaze and part of #4 engine falling away. The aircraft went into a spin and then exploded and disintegrated. It was last seen a few miles north of the spot where it suffered initial damage. 2 to 3 chutes were seen before aircraft exploded."
MACR reports that 3 men were able to escape this aircraft:
1st Lt. Roman Pajakowski navigator
2nd Lt. George J. Dvorak pilot
T/Sgt. Galen E Miller Jr Top Turret
Pajakowski and Dvorak were taken POWs. T/Sgt. Galen E Miller Jr's body was recovered and was buried October 3, 1944, at Garrison Cemetery Wesermuende-Geestemuende in Section II, Area G, Row 51, Grave #50.
This was part of mission #648 which originated from Rattlesden as part of the Eighth Air Force 447th Bomb Group, 709th bomb squadron operations in the bombing of Bremen.
The bombing of Bremerhaven resulted in damage to U-Boat #3509 which was being constructed at the Schichau Seebeckwerft facility.
The entire crew of the B-17 "Hurry Home" 43-37818 was as follows:
1Lt Robert Chambers Calef, Jr. Pilot, serial number 0821216
2nd Lt. George J. Dvorak Pilot,Maj George James Dvorak serial number 0706042.
1st Lt. Roman R. Pajakowski Navigator, serial number 0707974 Roman Robert Pajakowski
1Lt Donald Nicholas Fehrenbach , serial number 0756962
TSGT Paul Redmond Krubel Radio Operator, serial number 11069263
TSGT Galen E Miller, Jr Top Turret, serial number 33574233
SSgt Frank J Martin Ball Turret, serial number 31139065
SSGT Wayne S Thompson Tail Gunner, serial number 38370670
SSGT John Karbowsky Waist Gunner, serial number 33591618
TSgt. Paul R. Krubel and SSgt. Wayne S. Thompson's bodies were recovered near Cuxhaven, Germany, prior to November 3, 1944. They originally had interment at Brockeswald Cemetery Grave #96 D and #97D.
Roman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart.
Memorial to the crew of the "Hurry Home":
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=vcsr&GSvcid=652971
Roman R. Pajakowski was a World War 2 veteran and POW.
Roman R. Pajakowski.
Roman R Pajakowski, 54, of 422 N. Blaine, died at 9 30 a m Thursday in the Memorial Hospital after a two-month illness Pajakowski was a director of sales for ITT Building Services, he worked there 12 years.
Born on March 31, 1921, in South Bend, he had lived here his lifetime.
On April 15, 1944, m South Bend, he mairred Henrietta I Lewinski. who survives.
Also surviving are a son, Mark D, at home; two daughters, Phyllis of South Bend and Mrs. Ann Mane (Marie) Wrotge (Rotge)of Muncie, lnd.; three brothers, Casimir J , Leo and Ernest, all of South Bend, and two sisters, Mrs. Virginia Krol of South Bend and Mrs. Teresa Varda of Wyckoff, NJ Services will be at 10 a m Tuesday in St. Stanislaus Catholic Church.
Rev. Casimir Garbarz, C.S.C., pastor, will officiate Burial will be in St Joseph Cemetery. Friends may call from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday and 2 to 9 p.m. Monday in the Kamiewski and Sons Funeral Home.
He was a World War II Air Force veteran.
The South Bend Tribune
South Bend, Indiana
Fri, May 23, 1975
Page 26
Roman was a crew member of the B-17 "Hurry Home" 43-37818.
MACR (Missing Air Crew Report) 9401 reports that on September 26, 1944, at 1610 hours, the "Hurry Home" took a direct flak hit in the right wing just after bombs away.
Eyewitness statements in the MACR report as follows: "This aircraft flew #3 in the 2nd lead element squadron of the low group of 4A wing. This group bombed Bremerhaven as a last resort target. Aircraft # 818 received a direct flak hit over target just after bombs away. At 1610 hours this aircraft was observed to be on fire with the entire right wing ablaze and part of #4 engine falling away. The aircraft went into a spin and then exploded and disintegrated. It was last seen a few miles north of the spot where it suffered initial damage. 2 to 3 chutes were seen before aircraft exploded."
MACR reports that 3 men were able to escape this aircraft:
1st Lt. Roman Pajakowski navigator
2nd Lt. George J. Dvorak pilot
T/Sgt. Galen E Miller Jr Top Turret
Pajakowski and Dvorak were taken POWs. T/Sgt. Galen E Miller Jr's body was recovered and was buried October 3, 1944, at Garrison Cemetery Wesermuende-Geestemuende in Section II, Area G, Row 51, Grave #50.
This was part of mission #648 which originated from Rattlesden as part of the Eighth Air Force 447th Bomb Group, 709th bomb squadron operations in the bombing of Bremen.
The bombing of Bremerhaven resulted in damage to U-Boat #3509 which was being constructed at the Schichau Seebeckwerft facility.
The entire crew of the B-17 "Hurry Home" 43-37818 was as follows:
1Lt Robert Chambers Calef, Jr. Pilot, serial number 0821216
2nd Lt. George J. Dvorak Pilot,Maj George James Dvorak serial number 0706042.
1st Lt. Roman R. Pajakowski Navigator, serial number 0707974 Roman Robert Pajakowski
1Lt Donald Nicholas Fehrenbach , serial number 0756962
TSGT Paul Redmond Krubel Radio Operator, serial number 11069263
TSGT Galen E Miller, Jr Top Turret, serial number 33574233
SSgt Frank J Martin Ball Turret, serial number 31139065
SSGT Wayne S Thompson Tail Gunner, serial number 38370670
SSGT John Karbowsky Waist Gunner, serial number 33591618
TSgt. Paul R. Krubel and SSgt. Wayne S. Thompson's bodies were recovered near Cuxhaven, Germany, prior to November 3, 1944. They originally had interment at Brockeswald Cemetery Grave #96 D and #97D.
Roman was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal, with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal and a Purple Heart.
Memorial to the crew of the "Hurry Home":
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=vcsr&GSvcid=652971
