World War II Honoree

Thomas J. Zachok

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Clifton, New Jersey

Honored By

A Grateful American

HE ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS AND JOINED THE 41ST BOMBARDMENT GROUP OF THE 7TH AIR FORCE. HE WAS IN THE 47TH SQUADRON, ALSO KNOWN AS 'THE CROW FLIGHT'. HE WAS TRAINED AS A BOMBARDIER NAVIGATOR, BUT FUNCTIONED ONLY AS A NAVIGATOR IN COMBAT. HE SERVED THROUGHOUT THE PACIFIC THEATRE OF OPERATIONS, BASED IN THE MARSHALL ISLANDS, OKINAWA AND THE MACON ISLANDS. HE WAS WITNESS TO THE DROPPING OF BOTH ATOMIC BOMBS ON JAPAN FROM HIS B-25 MITCHELL NAMED 'WEEZIE'. HE WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, THE ASIATIC-PACIFIC CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL.