Name:
Frank Kotyk
Rank:
Staff Sergeant
Serial Number:
16176161
Unit:
335th Bomber Squadron, 95th Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
2009-10-12
State:
Michigan
Cemetery:
Saint Hedwig Cemetery, Michigan
Plot:
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Purple Heart
Comments:
Frank Kotyk was born on February 13, 1924. He was the Radio Operator / gunner of the B-17 43-38660 which took off from Station 119 in Horham, Suffolk, UK, on a mission to bomb Heilbronn, Germany on 20 January 1945. Shot down by flak over Hirtzfelden, France. Six of the crew parachuted safely and were taken prisoner (including Kotyk) while four died in the wreckage. He died at the age of 85.