World War II Pilot, 325th Fighter Group

Raymond Richard Kroskiewicz was born 9 August 1922 in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania to Stanley and Sophie Kroskiewicz. He joined big sister, Lucy, 6 and big brother John, 4. The 1930 Census showed the family on S. Prospect ST in Nanticoke. They own their home, valued at $3,000, but have no radio set. Raymond is joined by 2 little sisters, Helen 5 and Terisa 1. Stanley was working as a coal miner. In the 1940 Census the family is now living on S. Broufest ST, still in Nanticoke. They own this home, valued at $2500. Stanley is working as a Laborer, making $500 in 1939. During high school, Raymond was an award-winning newspaper carrier. He won, among other things, a trip to the 1939 New York World's Fair. Raymond has graduated from Nanticoke High School in June 1940.

Raymond joined the Army Air Corp on 16 August 1940 in Philadelphia, PA. He was working as an Office Clerk before joining. He finished 4 years of high school, and was 68” tall and weighed 155 lbs. His Army Service # 13005292. The US Military needed pilots, so they opened up flight training to Enlisted men who could pass all the tests. Raymond became part of Flight Class 42-H. His Primary training was in Jackson, Mississippi. He trained in PT-17 trainers, better known as Stearmans. During Primary Raymond had a total of 60:04 flight time, 31:22 dual (with a training pilot in plane) and 28:42 solo time. Aviation Cadet Kroskiewicz then spent from late May to 1 July at Bush Field, Augusta, GA in Basic Flight Training. He flew BT-15 and BT-13 planes. He had 70:02 flight time, 33:11 dual and 36:51 solo. Then off to Advance Flight Training at Spencer Field, Moultrie, Georgia. Here he flew AT-6s. He had a total of 78:10, 13:45 dual and 64:25 solo. On 6 September 1942 he was awarded his wings and becoming a Staff Sergeant Pilot. He had a total of 206:16 flight time before being awarded his wings. Soon after receiving his wings, Raymond was sent to the Boston Air Defense district where he was assigned to the 319th Fighter Squadron, 325th Fighter Group.

Staff Sergeant Pilot Raymond R. Kroskiewicz was killed 22 September 1942 during a training flight. On take-off, his plane stalled, crashed, and burst into flames. He was flying a P-40 F, serial #41-14178. He was attempting to take off from Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Connecticut. It looks like from flight records, this was his 2nd flight in a P-40. Sadly, he was the first pilot from the 325th Fighter Group to loose his life. He is buried at Holy Trinity Polish Roman Catholic Church Cemetery in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania.

To see more about the 325th, please visit www.325th.org

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 WW2 fallen here on Fold3. 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.

References:

Seven Hours a Prisoner by John F. Rauth

National Archived, St. Louis, MO

Raymond R Kroskiewicz