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Theodore T. Grzybowski

Bombardier
HometownEast Saugatuck, Michigan

1st Lt. Theodore T. Grzybowski served as bombardier aboard B-24H 42-94991 on the 13 August 1944 mission to Falaise, France. He successfully bailed out after the aircraft was struck by flak.

Grzybowski was captured and held as a prisoner of war. His POW status was confirmed on 10 October 1944. Sgt. Bishop reported seeing him at Dulag Luft at Wetzlar, Germany, in good condition. The MACR serial number is O-894447; the DB carries O-694447.

His next of kin was listed as Mrs. Argenta Mary Grzybowski (wife), East Saugatuck, Michigan.

Prisoner of War

Sortie Log

6 CATALOGUED SORTIES
29 APR 1944 — 13 AUG 1944

The sorties 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.

8AF Mission
Date
Target
Aircraft
№ 327
29 APR 1944
Berlin??
Satan's Sister II42-100413
№ 340
06 MAY 1944
SiracourtV/S
Patches42-100334
№ 347
09 MAY 1944
FlorennesA/F
Mr. Invader42-110068
№ 361
22 MAY 1944
Target unrecorded
42-24291
—
13 AUG 1944
Road junctions, Falaise, France
On the mission of 13 August 1944, B-24H serial 42-94991 was flying number three position in the element directly ahead of the eyewitness aircraft. At approximately 1200 hours, a few minutes before the IP, a direct burst of flak struck near the number one engine, which likely caused the fuel tank to catch fire immediately. The fire burned through the wing section behind the number one engine. The plane banked sharply away from the formation and entered a diving turn, then went into a spin. Three parachutes were observed before the rudder broke off; at that point two or possibly three more parachutes opened, with one chute striking the falling rudder and catching fire. The plane then passed out of sight. The aircraft struck the ground a few kilometers northwest of Falaise, France, and burned completely. Six parachutes were confirmed by surviving crew members and other squadron aircraft. German captors later confirmed that only six men got out.
Flying Fool, The42-94991
—
13 AUG 1944
Road junctions, Falaise, France
On the mission of 13 August 1944, B-24H serial 42-94991 was flying number three position in the element directly ahead of the eyewitness aircraft. At approximately 1200 hours, a few minutes before the IP, a direct burst of flak struck near the number one engine, which likely caused the fuel tank to catch fire immediately. The fire burned through the wing section behind the number one engine. The plane banked sharply away from the formation and entered a diving turn, then went into a spin. Three parachutes were observed before the rudder broke off; at that point two or possibly three more parachutes opened, with one chute striking the falling rudder and catching fire. The plane then passed out of sight. The aircraft struck the ground a few kilometers northwest of Falaise, France, and burned completely. Six parachutes were confirmed by surviving crew members and other squadron aircraft. German captors later confirmed that only six men got out.
Flying Fool, The42-94991