Thomas Leon Roskowick enlisted on 12 February 1943 in Los Angeles, California. He served in the 562nd Bomber Squadron, 388th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a waist gunner of #42-102485 "Bare Essentials" aircraft during World War II. Their aircraft was hit by flak over the target and had to feather no.1 prop. They left the formation and crash-landed at Blauwkapel, Holland at 16:00 hours. S/Sgt Thomas L. Roskowick was firing his guns at machinegun towers as the plane tried to make England by flying back on deck with 2 engines out. Sgt Roskowick was carried out of the burning plane, after the crash-landing, mortally wounded, where german soldiers supposedly took him to a hospital. He died of his wounds in the evening of May 28, 1944.

SSgt Roskowick is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. He was one of the many brave Americans of the 388th Bomber Group who lost their lives in aerial operations against the German forces from June 1943 - August 1945.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov, www.fieldsofhonor-database.com
Photo from: http://388bg.com