Chicago Tribune (IL) - 1/27/1949 Abstract
T. Sgt. John S. Spirodek, killed in action , July 20, 1944, in Germany,husband of Lois Walsh, nee Bullerman, son of Peter Sr.and the late Amalia,[Jarecki], brother of Joseph, Mary Rakowski, Charlotte "Lottie" Murphy, Peter Jr., Helen Farris, and the late Anna Kijak. Funeral Saturday, 10:30 a.m., from chapel, 3656 Belmont, to St. Wenceslaus church. Interment St. Adalbert. Military funeral under the auspices of Victory post, 34, Amvets.
401st Bomb Group 613th Sq
Sergeant Spirodek was Radio Operator on B-17G #42-31037 PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA, piloted by 1LT Kenneth R. Murgatroyd (See FindaGrave Memorial # 72486088) . Their aircraft was part of a mission to Leipzig, to bomb a ball bearing plant. Due to bad visibility, the mission's lead pilot decided to go on to the secondary target, the airfield at Kölleda. While approaching the target, Spirodek's aircraft was hit by flak in #1 engine and #2 wing tank which started a fire. Bombs were jettisoned and the bail-out-bell rung. All nine crew exited the plane and landed by parachute. Six were taken prisoner and survived the war in various German POW camps. Navigator 2LT Owen H. Jorgensen (FindaGrave Memorial # 10230893) was shot dead. Contradictory statements blamed different persons but agreed that it was someone wearing a uniform: SS men, a Nazi party official or a police officer. Tail Gunner Staff Sergeant Donald H. Schmidli (FindaGrave Memorial # 102309946) was found covered in blood, circumstantial evidence indicated he was beaten to death, probably by civilians from one of the surrounding villages. T/Sgt John S. Spirodek was found dead on the ground, most likely victim of a parachute failure. This conclusion was supported by the findings of US War Crime Investigators.
Contributor: Marxman (47733717)
T. Sgt. John S. Spirodek, killed in action , July 20, 1944, in Germany,husband of Lois Walsh, nee Bullerman, son of Peter Sr.and the late Amalia,[Jarecki], brother of Joseph, Mary Rakowski, Charlotte "Lottie" Murphy, Peter Jr., Helen Farris, and the late Anna Kijak. Funeral Saturday, 10:30 a.m., from chapel, 3656 Belmont, to St. Wenceslaus church. Interment St. Adalbert. Military funeral under the auspices of Victory post, 34, Amvets.
401st Bomb Group 613th Sq
Sergeant Spirodek was Radio Operator on B-17G #42-31037 PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA, piloted by 1LT Kenneth R. Murgatroyd (See FindaGrave Memorial # 72486088) . Their aircraft was part of a mission to Leipzig, to bomb a ball bearing plant. Due to bad visibility, the mission's lead pilot decided to go on to the secondary target, the airfield at Kölleda. While approaching the target, Spirodek's aircraft was hit by flak in #1 engine and #2 wing tank which started a fire. Bombs were jettisoned and the bail-out-bell rung. All nine crew exited the plane and landed by parachute. Six were taken prisoner and survived the war in various German POW camps. Navigator 2LT Owen H. Jorgensen (FindaGrave Memorial # 10230893) was shot dead. Contradictory statements blamed different persons but agreed that it was someone wearing a uniform: SS men, a Nazi party official or a police officer. Tail Gunner Staff Sergeant Donald H. Schmidli (FindaGrave Memorial # 102309946) was found covered in blood, circumstantial evidence indicated he was beaten to death, probably by civilians from one of the surrounding villages. T/Sgt John S. Spirodek was found dead on the ground, most likely victim of a parachute failure. This conclusion was supported by the findings of US War Crime Investigators.
Contributor: Marxman (47733717)
Chicago Tribune (IL) - 1/27/1949 Abstract
T. Sgt. John S. Spirodek, killed in action , July 20, 1944, in Germany,husband of Lois Walsh, nee Bullerman, son of Peter Sr.and the late Amalia,[Jarecki], brother of Joseph, Mary Rakowski, Charlotte "Lottie" Murphy, Peter Jr., Helen Farris, and the late Anna Kijak. Funeral Saturday, 10:30 a.m., from chapel, 3656 Belmont, to St. Wenceslaus church. Interment St. Adalbert. Military funeral under the auspices of Victory post, 34, Amvets.
401st Bomb Group 613th Sq
Sergeant Spirodek was Radio Operator on B-17G #42-31037 PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA, piloted by 1LT Kenneth R. Murgatroyd (See FindaGrave Memorial # 72486088) . Their aircraft was part of a mission to Leipzig, to bomb a ball bearing plant. Due to bad visibility, the mission's lead pilot decided to go on to the secondary target, the airfield at Kölleda. While approaching the target, Spirodek's aircraft was hit by flak in #1 engine and #2 wing tank which started a fire. Bombs were jettisoned and the bail-out-bell rung. All nine crew exited the plane and landed by parachute. Six were taken prisoner and survived the war in various German POW camps. Navigator 2LT Owen H. Jorgensen (FindaGrave Memorial # 10230893) was shot dead. Contradictory statements blamed different persons but agreed that it was someone wearing a uniform: SS men, a Nazi party official or a police officer. Tail Gunner Staff Sergeant Donald H. Schmidli (FindaGrave Memorial # 102309946) was found covered in blood, circumstantial evidence indicated he was beaten to death, probably by civilians from one of the surrounding villages. T/Sgt John S. Spirodek was found dead on the ground, most likely victim of a parachute failure. This conclusion was supported by the findings of US War Crime Investigators.
Contributor: Marxman (47733717)
T. Sgt. John S. Spirodek, killed in action , July 20, 1944, in Germany,husband of Lois Walsh, nee Bullerman, son of Peter Sr.and the late Amalia,[Jarecki], brother of Joseph, Mary Rakowski, Charlotte "Lottie" Murphy, Peter Jr., Helen Farris, and the late Anna Kijak. Funeral Saturday, 10:30 a.m., from chapel, 3656 Belmont, to St. Wenceslaus church. Interment St. Adalbert. Military funeral under the auspices of Victory post, 34, Amvets.
401st Bomb Group 613th Sq
Sergeant Spirodek was Radio Operator on B-17G #42-31037 PISTOL PACKIN' MAMA, piloted by 1LT Kenneth R. Murgatroyd (See FindaGrave Memorial # 72486088) . Their aircraft was part of a mission to Leipzig, to bomb a ball bearing plant. Due to bad visibility, the mission's lead pilot decided to go on to the secondary target, the airfield at Kölleda. While approaching the target, Spirodek's aircraft was hit by flak in #1 engine and #2 wing tank which started a fire. Bombs were jettisoned and the bail-out-bell rung. All nine crew exited the plane and landed by parachute. Six were taken prisoner and survived the war in various German POW camps. Navigator 2LT Owen H. Jorgensen (FindaGrave Memorial # 10230893) was shot dead. Contradictory statements blamed different persons but agreed that it was someone wearing a uniform: SS men, a Nazi party official or a police officer. Tail Gunner Staff Sergeant Donald H. Schmidli (FindaGrave Memorial # 102309946) was found covered in blood, circumstantial evidence indicated he was beaten to death, probably by civilians from one of the surrounding villages. T/Sgt John S. Spirodek was found dead on the ground, most likely victim of a parachute failure. This conclusion was supported by the findings of US War Crime Investigators.
Contributor: Marxman (47733717)
Gravesite Details
Killed In Action Re-interment 1/29/1949
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