SSGT. Daniel E. Palicki was a Tail Gunner with the 310th Bombardment Group; 381st Bombardment Squadron; Stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO).

His Hometown was Toledo, Lucas County, Ohio

Wednesday, 26 May 1943
381st BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order ---/mission ---)
Group Mission # 96: GELA/PONTE OLIVO A/D, SICILY
Group Mission # 96 2 Flights 12 B-25’s each Sqdrn.
Mission # 70
Escort 24 P-38’s.
Take Off 09:30
Bomb Load: (12 x 72) Frags
Target 11:55
Bombs Dropped: 11 (12 x 72), 9,504#
Down 14:40
Average Altitude: 9,200 Ft.
Total Time: 5 Hrs. 10 Min.
Weather: CAVU.
Three cloud layers observed on route and on return. REMARKS: Eight to ten fires were started among the aircraft parked on the airdrome. No enemy aircraft were observed in the air. Flak was heavy and light, with only slight accuracy. After leaving the target, Lt. Stecher called for assistance from the Air-Sea Rescue Service, saying that his aircraft, with one engine out, was losing altitude. Hearing his call, Lt. VanDivort circled, but a low cloud layer prevented him from sighting Lt. Stecher’s ship. The P-38’s gave their usual good protection, which they offer to anyone falling behind, but their pilots afterwards gave conflicting reports as to the number of men seen in the water.

381st BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 32:
After leaving the target, Lt. Stecher called for assistance from the Air Sea Rescue Service, saying that his aircraft, with one engine out, was losing altitude. As a low cloud layer obscured others from actually seeing the aircraft crash, the co-ordinates as to where the aircraft crashed are only approximate. On July 5th, 1943, it was reported from Malta that a body, identified as that of S/Sgt. Daniel E. Palicki had been washed ashore.

1. Lt. Renton, Navigator in Captain Coddington’s aircraft, gave the position as 36° 50’ N, 13° 35’ E°. 2. Captain Coddington radioed “Petrie” (Malta) and gave position. 3. Captain VanDivort circled but could not locate missing aircraft after distress call from Lt. Stecher.

A/C B-25C-5; Serial No. 42-53444;
Plane Nicknamed: “PUNJAB”; (B)
MACR: 32; shot down by AAA
P Stecher, Robert Walter, 1Lt - MIA, DED
CP Cox, Harold Edward, 2Lt - MIA, DED
N None
B Guyer, Stanley P., S/Sgt - MIA, DED
E None
R Marrall, Russell M., Sgt - MIA, DED
TG Palicki, Daniel E., S/Sgt - KIA
F None

Daniel E Palicki