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Theodore Juraschek

Co-Pilot

Flight Officer Theodore Juraschek served as co-pilot aboard B-24 serial 42-110104 with the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group. His next of kin was his father, Mr. Francis Juraschek, of Box 136 R.F.D. No. 7, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

On 4 June 1944, the aircraft was destroyed by anti-aircraft fire over Lorient, France. Juraschek was last seen in the co-pilot's seat. He did not bail out and is assumed to have been killed instantly when the plane was blown into pieces. Only two parachutes were observed from the stricken aircraft, neither belonging to him. He was also listed as MIA in the E and E report for the 13 June 1944 mission over NW France.

Juraschek is presumed killed in action as a result of the loss of his aircraft over Lorient on 4 June 1944.

Killed in Action

Sortie Log

4 CATALOGUED SORTIES
08 MAY 1944 — 13 JUN 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

Target unrecorded

Lorient, France

B-24 serial number 42-110104 was assigned to the 330th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group, flying from AAF Station 104. The aircraft was lost on June 4, 1944, during a mission to Lorient, France. According to eyewitness 2nd Lt. Harold R. Bennett of the 330th Bombardment Squadron, flak struck the aircraft at the Sperry Ball turret section at approximately 2054 hours. The ship then broke in half, with the tail section falling straight down and the wing and nose section going into a flat spin. Only one parachute was observed leaving the aircraft before it disappeared from view. Individual casualty questionnaires indicate the plane was blown up by the anti-aircraft hit. Crew witnesses reported watching two parachutes — one belonging to S/Sgt. John R. Rudy (whose tail turret was blown free and who subsequently evaded capture) and a second belonging to a crew member of Lt. Jennings' aircraft. Most of the crew are believed to have been killed instantly or blown from the aircraft without parachutes. The aircraft was equipped with four R-1830-65 engines (AAF serial numbers GP 30337, BF 435942, BP 436614, BP 436278). Engine serial numbers on installation were: 722521, 722522, 722486, 950066, 950894, 950632, 722507, and 722576.

Bombing mission over NW France

On 13 June 1944 the aircraft was shot down during a bombing mission over NW France. Three planes were lost on this mission. Six crew members bailed out. The aircraft departed from Station 104 at 1630. Of the three planes shot down, S/Sgt John R. Rudy (tail gunner) was the only crew member to successfully evade capture. All six men who bailed out were shot at while descending. Two were killed during the descent; the remaining three (other than the narrator) were captured. The fate of crew members who did not bail out is unknown.