Gregory G. “Buddy” Groncki was born on January 18, 1923, in Maryland. He was the son of Constantine Groncki and Mary M. Pietrowiak Groncki. He worked as a sheet metal worker before enlisting in the service on December 16, 1941. He served in the 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Tail Gunner of B-17 #42-102511 during World War II.

On July 19, 1944, during its 24th mission, the aircraft participated in a bombing raid targeting the Lechfeld airfield near Augsburg, Germany. While en route to the target, the B-17 sustained a direct hit from enemy flak, which struck the #2 fuel tank. This impact caused the aircraft to explode mid-air, disintegrating over the village of Weil, near Epfenhausen, south of Augsburg. The explosion was so severe that only the tail section remained relatively intact, which was later photographed being inspected by German soldiers. Of the nine crew members aboard, eight were killed in action, and the sole survivor was captured by German forces and held as a prisoner of war.

SSgt Groncki was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Saint Stanislaus Cemetery, Baltimore, Baltimore City, Maryland, USA. Gregory G. Groncki's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 7, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information:www.americanairmuseum.com, B-17flyingfortress.de, www.398th.org