Technical Sergeant Anthony P. Hajkowski 31081453

Technical Sergeant Anthony P. Hajkowski 31081453, US Army Air Corps KIA. He was Born in Gardner, Massachusetts on October 17, 1922. He is the son of Stanley and Matilda Hajkowski, and he attended Gardner High School. He entered the US Army Air Corps on August 7, 1942; at the age of 19, at Fort Devens Massachusetts. He served in the 15th Air Force, 97th Bombardment Groups, 414th Bombardment Squadron. He served as a radio operator and gunner on a B-17F-105-BO named ‘KAN-DO’ 42-30438. He served in North African Theater; Naples-Foggia. On October 14, 1943 at the age of 19 Sergeant Hajkowski plain went missing. The B-17 ‘KAN-DO’ became separated from its squadron during a violent storm over the Mediterranean while returning to the squadron base after 2 bombing mission into Europe. Naval and air craft conducted a search for the missing B 17 for several days, but no trace of the plane or its crew was ever found. He earned the Purple Heart Medal (PHM), Presidential Unit Citation, (ETO) Campaign Ribbon with two battle stars, the World War Two Victory Medal, Air Corps Citation of Honor. Also on the B-17 ‘KAN-DO’ on that day was, the Pilot 1ST Lt. Laird K. Walker (age about 24 Stanislaus County California), Copilot 2nd Lt. Leo L. Magee, Bombardier 2nd Lt. John R. Shores (age about 23 from Illinois) Navigator 2nd Lt Daniel Ulrich, (from New York) Aerial Engineer T/Sgt. Paul H. Fuchs (age about 31 from Illinois), Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt. John H. Carruthers (age 21, service number 12167714 from Waddington New York), Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt. Wayne E. Herrick, (age about 22,service number 32378392 from OSWEGO County New York) Tail Gunner S/Sgt. Norman K. Mathews, Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt. John S. Michalik (age about 24, service number 36376022 from Cook County ILLINOIS). Roland Garretson was sick on the October, 14 1943 and T/Sgt. Paul H. Fuchs took his place on the mission.