Joseph Stanley Bielecki was born April 21, 1923 in Shoaf, Fayette County, Pennsylvania. His parents were John and Anna Bielecki. The father, John Bielecki was born in Poland and worked as a laborer. The mother, Anna was born in Hungary. Joseph was the second oldest son of twelve children. Three of their sons served in WWII.

Joseph was single and living in Wayne County Michigan when he enlisted on November 7, 1942. He had completed four years of high school and was working as a painter in the construction trades . He served with the 91st Bomber Group, Heavy, 322nd Bomber Squadron, 8th Air Force as a Ball Turret Gunner. Service number 16149886.

He was killed in action over Anklam, Germany on October 9, 1943, when the 91st Bombing Group was ambushed by 300-400 enemy fighters. He was on the crew of the B-17 #42-29711 "Salty's Naturals II", also known as “Chief Sly III” when they were shot down by enemy fighters and crashed into the Baltic Sea.

The crew of 10 plunged into the Sea where all aboard perished from exposure in the cold waters while attempting to swim to the Danish coast. 5 airmen from B17 #42-29711 were buried in Svinø Churchyard. 2 were buried in Sweden and 3 have no known grave, Bielecki is one of those three.

S/Sgt. Bielecki is memoralized at Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetrey, Cambridge, England. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location. He was awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart.

The crewmembers B-17 #42-29711 “Chief Sly III” were:

Pilot: 1st Lt Charles B. Pinning, MD O-798575

Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt Edward H. Tomer, CA O-680769

Navigator: 2nd Lt Walter V. Cavanaugh, Jr., NC O-735172

Bombardier: 2nd Lt Dale C. Engell, NY O-739415

Radio Op: S/SGT Rudy L. Olague, AZ 18044478

Ball T Gun: S/SGT Joseph Bielecki, MI 16149886

Top T Gun: T/SGT John F. Robinson, MA 31157454

Tail Gun: S/SGT Joe E. Carrasquillo, NY 12142422

R Waist Gun: SGT Joseph Arasimowicz, PA 33031319

L Waist Gun: SGT Vincent A. White, NJ 12155211

Sources:

https://www.ancestry.com/ - 1920, 1930, 1940 census, draft card

https://www.findagrave.com/

https://www.honorstates.org/index.php

www.americanairmuseum.com

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