World War II Honoree

John Jos Witucki

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED AS AN AVIATION CADET IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON FEBRUARY 10, 1943 AT THE SAN ANTONIO AVIATION CADET CENTER IN TEXAS. GRADUATED FROM BOMBARDIER TRAINING CLASS 44-01 AT ROSWELL ARMY AIR FIELD, NEW MEXICO. UNDERWENT B-29 AIRCRAFT OPERATIONAL TRAINING AT PRATT ARMY AIR FIELD, KANSAS. DEPLOYED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATION AND WAS ASSIGNED TO 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 73RD BOMB WING, 497TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 870TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT ISLEY FIELD ON SAIPAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON DECEMBER 3, 1944, HE FLEW AS THE NAVIGATOR-BOMBARDIER ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS, TAIL CODE A-SQUARE-30 (SERIAL #42-63461). IT WAS ONE OF 86 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE MUSASHINO AIRCRAFT WORKS AND NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ENGINE FACTORY NEAR TOKYO, JAPAN. FLAK FROM ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY WAS HEAVY AND ENEMY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT ATTACKS WERE DESCRIBED AS MODERATE. HE WAS KILLED ON THE RETURN ROUTE, WHEN HIS AIRCRAFT RAN OUT OF FUEL AND WAS FORCED TO DITCH IN THE OCEAN APPROXIMATELY 22 MILES NORTHEAST OF SAIPAN.