Clement J. Kochczynski was born at Mount Carmel, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, on March 25, 1920. He was one of four children of Roman Jacob Kochczynski (22 Feb 1888 – Feb 1979) (also called Raymond), who was born at Mount Carmel, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania; and Romana (Zolnierzewicz) Kochczynski (19 May 1892 – 18 Feb 1942), who was born at Shamokin, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania. His parents married at Saint Stanislaus Church in Shamokin, Pennsylvania on September 20, 1915. His siblings were Bernard B. Kochczynski (14 Jul 1916 – 16 Jan 1998); Joseph Marion Koch (1 Nov 1918 – 8 Apr 1991) (changed his surname from Kochczynski to Koch); and Agnes M. (Kochczynski) Nawrocki (17 May 1924 – 23 Apr 1971).

In 1917 the family lived at 233 South Hickory Street, Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania (the home of his father's widowed mother), and his father was a chauffeur for a private company. His father later worked as an insurance agent. By 1940 the family lived at 141 South Chestnut Street in Mount Carmel. In 1942 his father was employed by New York Shipbuilding Corporation (aka New York Ship) at Camden, New Jersey. Lt Kochczynski's home of record was 431 Everett Street, Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio, the residence of his sister Agnes in 1945.

He completed Army Air Forces pilot training in Class 43-G, and received his wings and commission on July 28, 1943. He was then assigned as copilot on the heavy bomber crew of Lt Richard N. Gile in the 837th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. The Gile crew completed B-24 crew training with the 487th Bomb Group at Alamogordo Army Air Base, New Mexico, and deployed with the Group to England in March 1944. The Gile crew flew B-24H 42-52620 from Alamogordo, New Mexico to Lavenham, England via the southern Atlantic ferry route—a journey of about 10,000 miles—and arrived in England by mid-April 1944. The 487th Bomb Group was stationed at Army Air Forces Station 137, near the village of Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe.

On May 31, 1944, the 487th Bomb Group's target was a railroad marshalling yard at Jemelle, Belgium, but the mission was aborted because of bad weather. Lt Kochczynski completed his combat tour, and returned to the United States for leave. He returned to Lavenham on January 2, 1945 to begin a second tour. On Janurary 14, 1945 he flew as First Pilot with the crew of Lt Marshall W. Turner, 838th Bomb Squadron, on its first combat mission. Lt Turner probably flew as copilot with a more experienced crew, as was the custom.

The primary target was an oil refinery at Magdeburg, Germany. Lt Kochczynski and three of his crewmates were killed in action when their aircraft, B-17G 42-98013, collided in the target area with another B-17 in the formation. The aircraft peeled off to the right with its rudder knocked off and top turret damaged. It went into a spin from which Lt Kochczynski could not recover, and exploded. It crashed at Ventschau, Germany, due east of Luneburg, at 1340 hours. Five men survived. The four crew members who died were buried at the cemetery in Nahrendorf, Germany.

After the war, Lt Kochczynski's remains were reinterred at the U.S. Military Cemetery at Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium (now called Ardennes American Cemetery). His remains were returned to the United States and reinterred at Arlington National Cemetery on June 24, 1949.

B-17G 42-98013 crew:
• Kochczynski, Clement J – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Hunter, Stephen S – 2/Lt – Copilot – KIA
• Crandell, Loren W – 2/Lt – Navigator – POW
• Clark, Thomas M – 2/Lt – Bombardier – POW
• Seeger, Roy E – Sgt – Engineer – KIA
• Haulotte, Gene W – Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Scott, Frank G – Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – POW
• Anchondo, William A – Sgt – Waist Gunner – POW
• Peak, William W – Sgt – Tail Gunner – POW

Source of information: Paul M. Webber, www.findagrave.com