Individual Details
Jack W. HONSOWETZ
(18 Jun 1924 - 27 May 1944)
Jack served as a Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner on B-17 (#42-102613), 508th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, 8th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.
He resided in Los Angeles County, California prior to the war.
He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on September 4, 1942 in Los Angeles, California. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in the building of aircraft and also as Single, without dependents.
Jack was "Killed In Action" when his B-17 was shot down on Mission 133 to Berlin, Germany. He was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.
He was originally interred overseas and was later repatriated here on June 12, 1951.
Service # 19127128
Statement from 2nd Lt Mark Medick, Pilot of B-17 (#42-97202) about B-17 (#42-102613):
I was flying as pilot of aircraft #42-97202 which was in No. 3 position of the Lead Element of the High Squadron on a mission to Ludwigshaven, Germany on May 27, 1944. I first saw Lt Howard R. Evans apparently after he had been attacked by enemy fighters because the propeller of his no. 3 engine was feathered. I noticed a white vapor coming from his gas tanks and presumed that they had been hit in this attack in addition to the no. 3 engine. Then I saw him attacked by enemy fighters and a black vapor appeared which indicated an oil leak. After this attack he pulled out of formation and headed toward Switzerland under control. The Alps were plainly visible from where we were. I saw no parachutes nor did I hear anything from Lt Evans on VHF.
The aircraft crashed at Durlach near Karlsruhe.
Events
| Birth | 18 Jun 1924 | Wisconsin, United States |  |  | |
| Census | 1 Apr 1930 | St. Maries, Benewah, Idaho, United States | | | |
| Census | 1 Apr 1940 | 1801 Shell Avenue, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, United States | | | |
| Military | 1942 - 1944 | 508th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bomber Group, 8th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Force -- World War II | | | |
| Death | 27 May 1944 | Germany | | | |
| Burial | 12 Jun 1951 | Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Lemay, St. Louis, Missouri, United States | | |
Families
| Father | Frank Francis HONSOWETZ (1878 - 1934) |
| Mother | Emma BRUETTE (1883 - 1966) |
| Sibling | Ethyl M. HONSOWETZ (1901 - 1987) |
| Sibling | Berniece HONSOWETZ (1903 - ) |
| Sibling | Francis F. HONSOWETZ (1907 - 1984) |
| Sibling | Anna Matilda HONSOWETZ (1909 - ) |
| Sibling | Lucille Mary HONSOWETZ (1914 - 2007) |
| Sibling | Marion Katherine HONSOWETZ (1917 - 2002) |
| Sibling | Arthur John HONSOWETZ (1920 - 2006) |
| Sibling | Living |
Notes
Birth
Age 5 in 1930.Census
Enumerated with this family were Frank F. Honsowetz, age 51, the foreman of a lumber yard; his wife, Emma, age 48; and children: Francis, age 23, a contractor in the lumber industry; Ana M, age 20; Lucille, age 16; Marion K, age 12; Arthur W, age 10; Jack W, age 5; and Eugene L, age 2 months.http://interactive.ancestry.com/6224/4584323_00130?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2fsearch%2fdb.aspx%3fdbid%3d6224%26path%3d&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnBrowsing#?imageId=4584323_00132
Census
Enumerated with this household were Emma Honsowitz, age 58, widowed; and children: Ann M, age 30, a candy salesgirl in a confectionary; Marion K, age 23 a beauty operator in a beauty shop; Arthur J, age 19, a laborer; and Jack W, age 16. Also a lodger, Helen Nagy, age 25.https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9MT-K4KF?mode=g&i=30&wc=QZX5-WYQ%3A790105301%2C796133301%2C801809801%2C801902001%3Fcc%3D2000219&cc=2000219
Military
Enlisted 4 Sep 1942 in Los Angeles. Killed in action on 27 May 1944 over Germany.Death
Ball turret gunner on a B-17 --killed in action over Germany.Burial
Originally interred overseas; later repatriated to United States.Endnotes
1. 1930 U.S. Federal Census, , population, Idaho, Benewah, St Maries, enumeration district (ED) 21, sheet 2A, image 3, dwelling 30, family 30, lines 14-22, Frank F. Honsowetz and family; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6224 : accessed 3 March 2016); National Archives and Records Administration.
2. , Find A Grave, photographs and extracted information (findagrave.com : accessed 4 March 2016), Sgt. Jack W. Honsowetz; memorial #46858897.
3. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2005, "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database online, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8939 : accessed 4 March 2016), Jack W. Honsowetz; National Archives and Records Administration; Air Corps.
4. National Cemetery Administration, compiler, "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca. 1775-2006," database, Ancestry.com ( : accessed 4 March 2016), Jack W. Honsowetz; Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
5. 1930 U.S. Federal Census, , population, Idaho, Benewah, St Maries, enumeration district (ED) 21, sheet 2A, image 3, dwelling 30, family 30, lines 14-22, Frank F. Honsowetz and family; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=6224 : accessed 3 March 2016); National Archives and Records Administration.
6. 1940 U.S. Federal Census, , population schedule, California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, Councilmanic District 11, enumeration district (ED) 60-910, sheet 16A, image 31, household 423, lines 10-15, Emma Honsowitz and family; digital images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/1940census : accessed 2 March 2016); National Archives and Records Administration.
7. , Find A Grave, photographs and extracted information (findagrave.com : accessed 4 March 2016), Sgt. Jack W. Honsowetz; memorial #46858897.
8. Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2005, "U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946," database online, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=8939 : accessed 4 March 2016), Jack W. Honsowetz; National Archives and Records Administration; Air Corps.
9. National Cemetery Administration, compiler, "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca. 1775-2006," database, Ancestry.com ( : accessed 4 March 2016), Jack W. Honsowetz; Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
10. , Find A Grave, photographs and extracted information (findagrave.com : accessed 4 March 2016), Sgt. Jack W. Honsowetz; memorial #46858897.
11. National Cemetery Administration, compiler, "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca. 1775-2006," database, Ancestry.com ( : accessed 4 March 2016), Jack W. Honsowetz; Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.
12. , Find A Grave, photographs and extracted information (findagrave.com : accessed 4 March 2016), Sgt. Jack W. Honsowetz; memorial #46858897.
13. National Cemetery Administration, compiler, "U.S. Veterans Gravesites, ca. 1775-2006," database, Ancestry.com ( : accessed 4 March 2016), Jack W. Honsowetz; Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.