Paul Joseph Schmalenbach was born January 31, 1920 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Herman Schmalenbach and his wife Anna (Essig) Schmalenbach. Both of his parents were born in Pennsylvania to German immigrants. Paul had one older brother and four older sisters. In 1930 the family was living on Sparks Street in Philadelphia where his father owned and operated a butcher shop. When he registered for the draft in July 1941 Paul was living at home with his parents and working for Gaby Inc.

Paul enlisted in the US Army Air Forces on 18 December 1941 at Philadelphia. His enlistment record indicates that he was single, had completed two years of college, and had been working as a chemist. He attended flight training and upon graduation in late 1942 or early 1943, he was awarded his wings and commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was assigned as a pilot of one of the initial crews of the 349th Bomb Squadron of the 100th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Eighth Air Force, which flew B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers.

The 100th BG was activated 27 October 1942 at Gowen Field, Idaho then moved to Walla Walla Army Air Base, Washington. After receiving crews and aircraft, the group relocated again on 30 November 1942 to Wendover Field, Utah, where it added additional personnel, aircraft, and crews, and began operational training. On 1 January 1943, the aircraft and aircrews moved to Sioux City AAB, Iowa where they assisted in training of other groups bound for overseas. In mid-April 1943, the aircrews moved to Kearney Army Air Field, Nebraska and received brand new B-17s. After additional operational training, the group's aircrews departed Kearney on 25 May 1943, flying the North Atlantic route to England, where the group was based at Thorpe Abbotts, Norfolk. At some point, Paul was promoted to First Lieutenant.

On 25 June 1943, the 100th BG flew its first combat mission, sending nineteen B-17s to bomb the U-boat yards in Bremen, Germany. In foreshadowing of dreadful things to come for the group, three aircraft and 30 men did not return from the mission. 1Lt Schmalenbach was the pilot of B-17F #42-30038 (known as "Barfly") that fateful day. On the way to the target, the unescorted formation of B-17s was not properly assembled, likely due to a combination of the inexperienced crews and poor weather, making it especially vulnerable to attack by enemy fighters. As the scattered formation approached the coast of Germany, 1Lt Schmalenbach’s aircraft was seen to fall out of formation and disappear into the undercast, likely the victim of an enemy fighter. Five of the ten crewmen aboard, including 1Lt Schmalenbach, were either killed by the enemy fighters or perished when the aircraft crashed into the North Sea, their bodies were never found. The remaining five crewmen were able to bail out and were rescued by a German patrol boat and became prisoners of war.

Paul Joseph Schmalenbach is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands.

Thank you 1Lt Schmalenbach for your service and your sacrifice, you will not be forgotten.

Crew of B-17F #42-30038 "Barfly"

Pilot, 1Lt Paul J. Schmalenbach (KIA)
Co-Pilot, F/O George W. Cox (POW, died in captivity)
Navigator, 1Lt John F. Brown (POW)
Bombardier, 2Lt Jack L. Clark (KIA)
Top Turret Gunner/Engineer, TSgt Eugene M. Beck (KIA)
Radio Operator/Gunner, TSgt Frank J. Podbielski (POW)
Ball Turret Gunner, SSgt Norman C. Goodwin (POW)
Waist Gunner, Pvt Anthony J. Russo (KIA)
Waist Gunner, SSgt William C. Lucas (POW)
Tail Gunner, SSgt Lewis W. Priegel (KIA)

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story. SBTSProject/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at bob.al@storiesbehindthestars.org.

Sources:

1920 United States Federal Census
1930 United States Federal Census
1940 United States Federal Census
U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947
U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946
100th Bomb Group Foundation, https://www.100thbg.com/
Missing Air Crew Reports, #270

Paul J Schmalenbach