World War II Honoree

Peter J. Dudus

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New York City, New York

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Technical Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Army October 30, 1942 at New York City, New York. Upon his graduation from recruit training, he was designated to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. He served as a B-17 ‘Flying-Fortress’ Bomber Radio Operator, assigned to the 337th Bomber Squadron, 96th Bomber Group, an element of the U.S. 8th Air Force ‘Mighty Eighth’ Army Air Forces. His unit was based at the Snetterton Royal Air Force Station Location: Heath, England. Thursday, December 16, 1944 he was killed in action, on a bomb run to Bremen, Germany. After leaving the target area, his Flying-Fortress was shot-down by German Anti-Aircraft ground fire, crash landing at Kimewerd, Holland. Personnel from a Graves Registration Company buried him in the Margraten Battlefield Cemetery at Aachen, Holland. In the post-war era, this Airman’s family requested that he be buried with Military Honors at Long Island National Cemetery Farmingdale, New York, with January 28, 1949.This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal and the Purple Heart. The Air Medal was awarded to the Sergeant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and the Purple Heart for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.