SGT. Walter J. Kwiecien was a Tail Gunner with the 310th Bombardment Group; 381st Bombardment Squadron; Stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO)

His Hometown was Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts.

381st BS War Diary

22 JUNE 1944

On 22 June 1944, twelve aircraft of the 381st Bombardment Squadron's 275th mission, took off to bomb Vernio North Railroad Viaduct, Italy. Near Florence, Italy, Aircraft No. 4087, a B-25J, was hit by flak, but remained in flight until crashing at 43 deg. 14' N - 10 deg. 33 E. Six parachutes were seen to open.

B-25J, Serial # 43-4087; MACR: 6040

P: Killian, Robert Faherty, 1LT., O-675435; Evaded Capture; Asst. by Partisans; RTD to Base; 01 July 1944

CP: Tennyson, Halvor L., 2LT., O-735835; POW; SD ~ Liberated 04 July 1945

B: Nelson, Fredrick U. S/Sgt., 17036977; Evaded Capture; Asst. by Partisans; RTD to Base; 01 July 1944

R: Close, John W., S/Sgt., 13037571; POW ~ Liberated 20 July 1945

Turret G: Jared, Jerry L., Sgt., 16141145; Evaded Capture; RTD to Base 07 July 1944

Tail G: Kwiecien, Walter J., Sgt., 31007898; POW ~ Liberated 04 June 1945

MISSING AIR CREW REPORT

25 June 1944

Paragraph 14.

Eyewitness Description of Crash

We had bombed our primary target and while on our way home we ran into accurate flak over Florence, Italy. Aircraft everywhere seemed to be in trouble, especially the right wing plane of the lead element, third flight, Number 43-4087. The left engine looked as if it had suffered a direct hit. The pilot swung the aircraft out of formation, to the right, and salvoed his bombs, his bomb bay doors remaining open. I then saw him make a gradual decent with the aircraft skidding and weaving slightly, the left engine trailing white smoke. Then I lost sight of the aircraft until approximately twenty-five (25) miles from the coast. At that time, two (2) chutes opened from the rear end of the plane at about twenty-five hundred (2,500) feet. We then followed our element leader down to assist in what I thought would be a water landing. As we crossed the beach, rapid anti-aircraft fire began and my aircraft suffered approximately thirty (30) hits. 43-4087 made a left turn about one half mile out to sea. At this position a third chute opened and headed back toward land again. After re-crossing the beach, a fourth and fifth chute opened, the last being a delayed action jump. The aircraft kept in a left turn, skidding and diving more violently. Then its nose was poined downward at almost a vertical and headed toward the ground. At approximately twenty (20) to fifty (50) feet, it pulled out leaving vapor trails and heading directly up, stalling at about fifteen hundred (1,500) feet. At this time the sixth chute appeared. The plane then broke into a flat spin and crashed into the highway along the coast. The aircraft was burning when I left.

Robert I. Johnson, 1st LT., Air Corps, Pilot

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381st BS War Diary

Saturday, 01 July 1944

Having parachuted and landed safely behind enemy lines when their plane was lost due to flak on the mission to Vernio North R.R. Viaduct on 22 June 1944, 1st Lt. Robert F. Killian and S/Sgt. Frederick U. Nelson returned to Ghisonaccia today. They successfully evaded capture by the enemy and made towards the advancing Allied Forces, who returned them to Military Control.

Wednesday, 05 July 1944

1st Lt. R.F. Killian and S/Sgt. F.U. Nelson left for the United States today.

Friday, 07 July 1944

Sgt. J.L. Jared gunner on Lt. Killian's crew, escaped through enemy lines in Northern Italy and was returned to the squadron today.

Sunday, 09 July 1944

Sgt. J.L. Jared left for the United States

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/894059/walter-j-kwiecien

Walter J Kwiecien