He was a gunner on B-24J #42-73159, nicknamed 'Tough Baba', serving with the 10th Air Force. They were part of a formation of B-24s on a bombing mission to Insein, Burma, near Rangoon. Fierce enemy opposition of anti-aircraft fire and fighter planes was encountered. Before reaching the target the plane was hit by A-A and the right wing was smoking badly as the ship dropped and slid off in a banking turn to the right. Between eight and ten enemy fighters began attacking the disabled ship. The plane dropped about 3000-6000 feet before bursting into flames and exploding.
The crew were:
1st Lt. Granvill B Stringfellow, O-725549, Pilot
Lt. Col. Everett C Plummer, O-300865, Co-Pilot
Capt. John W Lasell, O-219261, Observer
1st Lt. Hugh P MacPherson, O-660875, Navigator
1st Lt. Lancer W Robertson, O-726076, Bombardier
S/Sgt. Bertram J Archer, 12140538, Armorer-Gunner
T/Sgt. Charles C Bowen, 14070288, Flight Engineer
S/Sgt. Alfonse S Cieslak, 36301894, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Henry W Ley, 11045340, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Henry G Vanis, 37190972, Asst. Radio Operator
Cpl. George W Tidd, 14073599, Armorer-Gunner
~
Cieslak was from Chicago, Illinois. His wife was Helen J Cieslak.
Enlisted at Camp Grant, IL, October 17, 1941.
The crew were:
1st Lt. Granvill B Stringfellow, O-725549, Pilot
Lt. Col. Everett C Plummer, O-300865, Co-Pilot
Capt. John W Lasell, O-219261, Observer
1st Lt. Hugh P MacPherson, O-660875, Navigator
1st Lt. Lancer W Robertson, O-726076, Bombardier
S/Sgt. Bertram J Archer, 12140538, Armorer-Gunner
T/Sgt. Charles C Bowen, 14070288, Flight Engineer
S/Sgt. Alfonse S Cieslak, 36301894, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Henry W Ley, 11045340, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Henry G Vanis, 37190972, Asst. Radio Operator
Cpl. George W Tidd, 14073599, Armorer-Gunner
~
Cieslak was from Chicago, Illinois. His wife was Helen J Cieslak.
Enlisted at Camp Grant, IL, October 17, 1941.
He was a gunner on B-24J #42-73159, nicknamed 'Tough Baba', serving with the 10th Air Force. They were part of a formation of B-24s on a bombing mission to Insein, Burma, near Rangoon. Fierce enemy opposition of anti-aircraft fire and fighter planes was encountered. Before reaching the target the plane was hit by A-A and the right wing was smoking badly as the ship dropped and slid off in a banking turn to the right. Between eight and ten enemy fighters began attacking the disabled ship. The plane dropped about 3000-6000 feet before bursting into flames and exploding.
The crew were:
1st Lt. Granvill B Stringfellow, O-725549, Pilot
Lt. Col. Everett C Plummer, O-300865, Co-Pilot
Capt. John W Lasell, O-219261, Observer
1st Lt. Hugh P MacPherson, O-660875, Navigator
1st Lt. Lancer W Robertson, O-726076, Bombardier
S/Sgt. Bertram J Archer, 12140538, Armorer-Gunner
T/Sgt. Charles C Bowen, 14070288, Flight Engineer
S/Sgt. Alfonse S Cieslak, 36301894, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Henry W Ley, 11045340, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Henry G Vanis, 37190972, Asst. Radio Operator
Cpl. George W Tidd, 14073599, Armorer-Gunner
~
Cieslak was from Chicago, Illinois. His wife was Helen J Cieslak.
Enlisted at Camp Grant, IL, October 17, 1941.
The crew were:
1st Lt. Granvill B Stringfellow, O-725549, Pilot
Lt. Col. Everett C Plummer, O-300865, Co-Pilot
Capt. John W Lasell, O-219261, Observer
1st Lt. Hugh P MacPherson, O-660875, Navigator
1st Lt. Lancer W Robertson, O-726076, Bombardier
S/Sgt. Bertram J Archer, 12140538, Armorer-Gunner
T/Sgt. Charles C Bowen, 14070288, Flight Engineer
S/Sgt. Alfonse S Cieslak, 36301894, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Henry W Ley, 11045340, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Henry G Vanis, 37190972, Asst. Radio Operator
Cpl. George W Tidd, 14073599, Armorer-Gunner
~
Cieslak was from Chicago, Illinois. His wife was Helen J Cieslak.
Enlisted at Camp Grant, IL, October 17, 1941.
Inscription
SSGT, 493 AAF BOMB SQ, 7 BOMB GP WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Burial December 19, 1949.
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