Arthur Baranick was from South Boston, Massachusetts and was born on 22nd May 1920. His parents, Elias and Margaret, were Austrian immigrants. Margaret Baranick came to the US first in 1913. Speaking 5 languages she easily got work & saved up to send for Elias and the children.
Elias and the children Elizabeth, & Joseph joined her in 1915. Elias got his citizenship first, in July of 1923. Elias was a machinist at a railroad yard in Boston. The family was large, with seven children, and Arthur being the fifth child.
He was known in service as 'Art'. Middle name was John, but this was missing off the copy Birth Certificate provided at his time of service registration. He was therefore always referred to in official documents as having 'NMI' (No Middle Initial).

Served at Wheeler Field, Honolulu, Hawaii in 1941.
24 Dec 1941 - S/Sgt. Baranick received a commendation for his "heroic & courageous action under fire" during the attack on Pearl Harbour on 7th December 1941.
20 May 1943 - Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant
19 November 1943 - Joined the 338th Fighter Squadron
19 December 1943 - Involved in take-off accident in P-38H CL-V 42-67025, at Station 367, Kingscliffe, England.
07 March 1944 - Awarded the Air Medal
26 March 1944 - Promoted from 2nd Lieutenant to 1st Lieutenant
05 April 1944 - Awarded 1st Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal
15 April 1944 - Awarded 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal
27 April 1944 - Awarded 3rd Oak Leaf Cluster to the Air Medal
13 May 1944 - Awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross
14 June 1944 - Killed in Action (MACR No. 05740)
From German records it is now known that Lt. Baranick died in a plane crash at Triel, North West of Paris, 10km South West of Pontoise. He was still wearing his unopened parachute, so could not have been the parachuting pilot, that Lt. Biedul saw in the report below. He was buried in Pontoise cemetery.
Lt. Baranick is now buried at Plot A, Row 10, Grave 30, Epinal American Military Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Voges, France

1 /Lt. Chester A. Biedul reported: "Lt. Baranick was on a bomber escort and area support mission to France when he was killed by enemy fighters near Bonnieres, France. Lt. Baranick was flying my wing, this date, over France when enemy aircraft attacked us. I did not see Lt. Baranick get hit, but I looked around and saw his aircraft tumbling. I pulled up in a turn, and I saw a chute open below, which I firmly believed to be Lt. Baranick."