Nicholas Stampolis.
Pilot · 409th Squadron · Of Columbus, MI, MI.
The Man Behind the Name
1st Lt. Nicholas Stampolis served as pilot of B-24D 42-40617 on the 93rd Bomb Group's mission to Ploesti on 1 August 1943. The 93rd Bombardment Group certificate confirmed him missing over target on that date, signed by Maj. Henri Z. Lake, Intelligence Officer.
His aircraft received a direct flak hit in the bomb bay at approximately 1400 hours while flying at extremely low altitude over Ploesti. The plane crashed and exploded in the center of the city with no crew members observed bailing out. He was reported as a battle casualty. His father, Peter Stampolis, resided at 230 East Vine Street, Columbus, Michigan.
Service record.
Missions flown.
The missions below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.