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John William Zabarylo . Royal Air Force 419 Sqdn. from Canada My father, John William Zabarylo was an airframe mechanic from Canada. I am sure he served with 419 Squadron, but was told that mechanics were shuffled around in the Command and sent to where they were needed most.
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Plutowny Jan Bronislaw Zacharkiewicz DoH.. Polish Air Force No. 305 (Greater Poland) Squadron from Dubno, Poland (d.16 February 1987) Jan Zacharkiewicz was my father, he was married in St Anne's Cathedral, Leeds on 16th of August 1943 to my Mum, Thelma Joyce Mortimer.
The wedding certificate lists his address at that time as Hutton Cranswick, near Beverley, thus RAF Hutton Cranswick where he was stationed.
He had also been stationed at RAF Church Fenton near Tadcaster.
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WO1. Alexander Orest "Chiefy" Zacharuk MID. Royal Canadian Air Force Bomb Aimer 432 Squadron from Mirror, Alberta, Canada Alexander Zacharuk's citation reads: "Under a calm and quiet manner he has always maintained a fine offensive spirit in action which inspired confidence in his crew members and other crews in his flight. Eleven of his 26 operational sorties have been over heavily defended targets in Germany, such as Dusseldorf, Essen, Brunswick, Berlin (three times), Stuttgart and Frankfurt."
Halifax NP706 (QO-J) took off at 0326 hours, on the 18th of July 1944 from East Moor to bomb fortified positions facing the Allied push towards Caen. The aircraft was shot down in flames by flak.
This was a very experienced crew whose skipper had flown 31 operations. the crew consisted of:
- F/Sgt R E Burton (RCAF) was mortally wounded and is buried in Bretteville-sur-Laine Canadian War Cemetery.
- F/L J.H. Cooper (RCAF, POW),
- Sergeant S.D. Wright (RCAF, POW),
- Sergeant H.E. Oakeby (evader),
- F/O R.P. Dryden (RCAF, POW),
- WO2 A. Zacharuk (RCAF, evader),
- WO1 K.E. Elliott (RCAF, POW),
- F/L J.H. Cooper was interned in Camp L3, POW No.7607,
- F/O R.P. Dryden in Camp L1, POW No.5171,
- WO1 K.E. Elliott in Camp L7, POW No.452
- Sergeant S.D. Wright, in Camp L7 POW No.500.
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Pte. Nicholas Zahra . British Army Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from Cairo, Egypt (d.20th May 1943) Nicholas Zahra was buried in the family tomb in the Old Cairo New Latin Cemetery in Egypt.
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PFC. John David "Jay" Zaitz . United States Army 157th Infantry Regiment from Pueblo, CO John Zaitz, was born on the 14th of December 1911, was one of seven children, raised by his mother Frances, after the death of his father in the 1918 Flu epidemic. By trade John was a broom maker, in Pueblo Colorado, and considered amiable and well-liked. He passed away in 1979, leaving no spouse or children.
John was Inducted on the 21st of January 1941 and Discharged on 27th of August 1945. According to his military records we have indicated the following information,
Per General Order #14, 157th Infantry Regiment dated November 15, 1922 John was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge effective January 1,1944, page 20 (image 6014). He is listed as a former member of this organization.
In G.O. # 5, 157th Infantry Regiment, dated 8 July 1944, listed as MIA, effective 1 January 1944, page 6 (image 6091). Then, in G.O. #5 Extract, also dated 8 July 1944, he is awarded the CIB with his status listed as MIA, page 6 (image 6126). This extract describes all the men as formerly of this organization.
John spoke very little about his experiences during the war, but did offer some short stories with very little detail. Records for the 157th (45th Div) show that they arrived in Africa January 22, 1943, they next assaulted Scoglitti Sicily July 9-11 1943, and Salerno, Italy September 9, 1943.
John related one story without saying where it took place, but was pleased with the outcome. He had been order to station himself on a hillside that overlooked a road. He had been supplied with a bazooka and told that a German tank was reported to be headed in his direction. His orders were to stop the tank. He said he spent several hours with the bazooka in his hands praying that the Panzer would never appear. His prayers were answered and he was relieved by another soldier.
During the landing at Anzio, in January 1944 John's landing craft was turned over in the surf many of the soldiers with him were drowned. John shed rifle, ammo belt and field pack which allowed him to make it to the surface. He retrieved an Italian made rifle which he used until he could rearm.
While looking down on the Town of Anzio from a hill he could see the shells coming in overhead. During some shelling he took cover behind a stone wall. A shell landed on the other side of the wall and a large stone from the wall fell hitting Jay on the helmet and sliding down his back leaving scrapes. His buddies talked him into going to the aid station so he could receive a purple heart. When he arrived there he saw the wounds that others had suffered and turned around and went back to his unit. He said he didn't deserve any medals.
While searching a farm, John came upon a barn with a chicken and eggs. He stashed the eggs and came back for them later with friends. While this group of GIs huddled around in anticipation of fried eggs Jay opened the eggs and they contained dead chicks which had become spoiled.
During the battle of Anzio, John's group was moving up a ravine or ditch. He said the men in front of him stood up and raise their hands. When he looked up he found they were surrounded by Germans, and were taken prisoner. General Order 5, 157th Infantry Regiment, dated 8th of July 1944, lists John as missing in action, effective 1st of January 1944. This must be a general use for the date as the division assault on Anzio took place on 22nd of January 21944. In General Order 5 Extract, also dated 8th of July 1944, he is awarded the CIB with his status listed as Missing in Action.
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W/O Lewis Zalsburg DFM. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 511 Sqd. (d.4th July 1943) Warrant Officer (Navigator (Bomber)) Zalsburg was buried in the Gibraltar (North Front) Jewish Cemetery in Gibraltar.
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Pte. Jack L. Zamansky . British Army 5th Battalion Queens Own Cameron Highlanders from Glasgow (d.23rd March 1943)
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Louis Zamperini . United States Army Air Force from Torrance, California Louis Zamperini, an Olympic distance runner and World War II veteran who survived 47 days on a raft in the Pacific after his bomber crashed, then endured two years in Japanese prison camps, died on 4th July 2014. He was 97.
He is the subject of Laura Hillenbrand's best-selling book "Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption," which is being made into a movie directed by Angelina Jolie and is scheduled for a December release by Universal.
In World War II, he was a bombardier on a U.S. Army Air Forces bomber that crashed in the Pacific Ocean during a reconnaissance mission. He and one of the other surviving crew members drifted for 47 days on a raft in shark-infested waters before being captured by Japanese forces. He spent more than two years as a prisoner of war, surviving torture.
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S/Sgt. John Michael Zanetis . United States Army Air Force Airplane Crew Chief 750 702nd Bomb Sq from Vincennes My father was Airplane Crew Chief for 702nd Bomb Squadron. He was originally from Griffin, Indiana. He passed away in 1979 of a heart attack in Vincennes Indiana.
I'd love to hear from anyone who knew him or whose parentd might have known him.
Thank you all and God Bless.
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Gnr. Lodovico Cesare Zaninoni . Royal Artillery from London
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Sgt. Leo J Zanotti . US Army from Wilmington, Ma Leo Zanotti was captured at the Rapido River in Italy on 22nd of January 1944.
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Flying Officer W C Zapfe . RCAF 59 Squadron
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Pte. Michael S. Zbylot BSM.. United States Army Company D. 324th Infantry Regiment from Bondsville, MA Michael Zbylot was a heavy machine-gunner in Co. D of the 324th Infantry Regiment in 44th Infantry Division. Captured during Battle of the Bulge (German Operation Norwind) on the night of New Year's Eve, 31st of December 1944, when friendly positions were overrun by surprise attack by winter camouflaged German infantry. During the attack, the machine gun was disabled and the loader killed. PFC Zbylot was captured and held at Stalag 5A until forced march on Easter 1945. Left with American POWs in barn and was eventually freed by Allied forces in May 1945. He entered the war weighing 190 lbs and was 110 lbs at repatriation.
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Bmdr. Franciszek Zebrowski . Polish Army from Jodki, Poland Frank Zebrowski and his unit were a horseback unit. They were sent to the front with a rifle and five bullets. Unbelievable issue for war. Their train unloaded in Warsaw and they marched to the front. The Germans pushed them all the way back across the width of Poland to Sudowna Wisna, a town 30 miles east of Lwow. They were surrounded and captured. He was searched and his horse was taken away. He was sent to Camp IV-A in Chojezwerda, issued with the number #9372. He was forced to work on farms in the vicinity.
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F/O. William Zelicovitz . Royal Air Force 437 Squadron from Ottawa William Zelicovitz served with 232, 575 and 437 Squadron.
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F/O. Warren Robert Zeller . Royal Canadian Air Force 418 Squadron from Westmount, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada (d.9th September 1944) Flying Officer (Pilot) Warren Zeller was the son of Walter P. and Nettie E. Zeller, of Westmount, Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, husband of Janet Foster Zeller, of Westmount.
He was 25 when he died and is buried in the Limmen Protestant Churchyard, Noord-Holland, Netherlands
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Orpha Theldon Ziegler . United States Army Army Corps of Engineers Orpha Theldon Ziegler was a wounded officer of the Army Corps of Engineers. He spent time at Oflag 64 and Oflag 3-A in Luckenwalde. He walked out of Walkenwalde before the official liberation by the Russians.
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Pte. Rudolph Frank Ziemski . Canadian Army Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders from Winnipeg, Manitoba
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Sgt. Zilole . British Army Rhodesian African Rifles (d.4th June 1944) Sgt. Zilole is commemorated on the Lubudi Memorial in the Congo.
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Cpl. Peter Frederick "Pete" Zimmer . United States Army 47 Infantry, 9 Division from Flushing, NY My father's words months before his death from cancer in 1997. He was captured in Tunisia, Palm Sunday 1943, and reunited Palm Sunday, 1945.
Jack
Refer to the map, it's a small scale of Germany with most of the prison camps. Transferred by boat "German" to Naples, Italy. After 3 weeks in Italy transferred by box car to Moosberg, Germany. Registered with the Red Cross, then after 3 weeks again put on box cars to Stalag 3B Furstenberg where we were confined until the Russians pushed within some 7 to 10 miles from the camp. Marched from Stalag 3B towards Stalag 3A, however a small contingent was broken off and sent to a small work camp in Luckenwalde. We were there from approximately Jan 1945 to the beginning of April 1945. During this time we, Art Rosenberg and myself, decided we would break from the column and try to get to American troops. While waiting to move out the released Russian prisoners stole our stored extra food and we had none left. At this time we took in a loner, Aid Mersfelder from Monhegan Island, Maine, who knew our plans and volunteered his food. Broke from the column on the second day, Germans thinking we were stupid and could not understand orders and gave up on us.
After 2 exciting and harrowing days of freedom we came across about 10 French POWs at the side of a small intersection of country roads. Their apparent leader was a younger former policeman from Paris who approached me telling us the Americans were on this road to the left, or east. He said we had to go through these tanks and Germans, who were standing around smoking and appeared confused themselves. The Frenchman stated we walk in the center of his men, bend over and shuffle your feet, not straight up like Americans. Scary part of the whole thing, I could have touched the tanks. After a half day we got to the Elbe where we found hundreds of French POWs who had been there several days afraid to move over the levee to the river. We took Art's tee shirt and waved it and moved over to the levee, where 3 Americans came in a small private boat, took on us 3 Americans, a few British who were there, and took over the French in several trips.Ironically the day of capture was Palm Sunday 1943, back to Americans Palm Sunday 1945.
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Flt.Sgt. Leonard William Zingelmann . Royal Australian Air Force 103 Squadron from Boonah, Ipswich, Queenstown (d.6th June 1944) Leonard Zingleman flew with 103 squadron. The plane he flew in was shot down near Vire in France on 6th June 1944 after taking off from Elsham at 10 pm on D Day. The French memorial association, ASNA, have recently erected a plaque to the crew and the plane at the crash site. Would you happen to have any more details of Leonard? I know he came from Ipswich Queensland but if you have anything else could you please forward to me.
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Sgt. Zizole . Rhodesian African Rifles (d.4th June 1944) Sgt. Zizole is commemorated on the Lubudi Memorial in the Congo.
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Bruno Zlatich . from Italy Ny father, Bruno Zlatich, was an Italian POW during WWII somewhere in England. He had his own workshop (electrical) and made "gadgets".
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S/Sgt. John Znavor . United States Army 2nd Btn, F Coy. 414th Infantry Rgt `Jack' Zvanor was in the 414th, 2nd Btn, Company F and served from 1943 to 1945. Anyone remember him?
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S/Sgt. Wilbur Hugo Zoller . United States Army from USA My grandfather, American Army Staff Sergeant Wilbur Hugo Zoller, was also held at Stalag IVb from 1944 to May of '45. Unfortunately, my grandpa passed away when I was only 4 years old. As I understand from my grandmother, he did not talk much about his time at war.
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Pvt. Theodore Michael Zona . US Army 838th Anti-Aircraft Battalion Ted Zona served with 838th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, US Army.
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WO. Nickolas Zuk . Royal Canadian Air Force 166 Squadron from Winnipeg, Manitoba My grandpa was Nickolas Zuk. I started this search out of curiosity and to learn about him, as I am sure most have not talked about the war.
I only knew him as my grandpa. Unfortunately I don't have any information other than what I have found online.
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2nd Lt. Joseph P. Zutell . United States Army 354th Inf. M Coy 89th Div. The following is a copy of the Certificate from the Czech Army:
"The Commandant of Czechoslovakian Army in Susice wishes to [illegible] his gratitude to the following [illegible] of the American and British Armies:
Joseph P Zutell, 2nd Lt, 05_7515, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
Fred H. Jasper, S/Sgt, 37448400, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
Leonard E. C__plin, Acting Sergeant, 2572226 Royal Corps of Signals, English
Worn E. Drew, PFC, 36067232, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
Arlen Ingram, PFC, 38608593, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
Byron S. Mooney, Pvt, 11131658, Company M, 354th Inf, 89th Div
The above mentioned escaped from their Prisoner of War camp in Mokrosuky in the district of Susice on the night of 4 to 5 May 1945, and joined up with the Czech soldiers in Susice. On the following day, they disarmed the German garrison in the town, numbering 63 men. Then, accompanied by a Czech Army officer and members of the Czech National Freedom movement, set out for the tanks of the 4th Division of the 3rd American Army in order to connect up with them. After a journey through areas still partially occupied by the enemy, they reached the spearheads some 20 km away, and gave information about the strength of the enemy craft in the neighborhood and brought the tanks into Susice.
The area Commandant of the Czechoslovakian Army in Susice Susice, May 10, 1945".
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F/O Ryszard Zygmuntowicz . Royal Air Force 138 Sqdn. from Poland (d.21st April 1942) I'm looking for any information about my grandfather's brother, Ryszard Zygmuntowicz. He was a pilot and he died on 21st April 1942 in Kreuth (Austria).
It is interesting that in official documents and information he died during his flight to Czechoslovakia. There are questions about why the plane crashed in Austria, why two members of a plane crew were buried in as "unknown people", why people from Kreuth found a lot of money and communist leaflets in the place of the accident and - last question - why, on a night of bad weather, when all flights were cancelled, the plane took off with Wing Commander Farley (English commander of a Squadron) which was an unexpected event? It's impossible to get any information from any authority and as far as I know, until 2020 year this evidence is secret.
I'd like to find someone who knows something about this Squadron. Maybe pilots or their children who have memories from World War II.
Update: The crew were:
Wing Co W.R. Farley DFC, RAF (2nd pilot)
F/O J.A. Pulton, RAFVR (airgunner)
F/O R. Zygmuntowicz, PAF (pilot)
Sgt C. Madracki, PAF (navigator)
F/Sgt B Karbowski, PAF (rear gunner)
Capt. A.H. Voellnagel, RAF
Sgt L. Wilmanski, PAF (airbomber)
Sgt M. Wojciechowski, PAF (wop/airgunner)
All the crew were buried in Durnbach War Cemetery, Collective Grave 9.H.20-24 (information from CWGC).
It is suggested that there may have been four passengers aboard as well as the crew. 138 Squadron flew Special Operations duties, so the passengers may have been agents.
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Lt. Kazimierz Zyluk . Polish Army Kazimierz Zyluk is my father and he was a Lieutenant at the defence of Warsaw. He didn't like talking about the war but from time to time he did share his experiences with me. I'm looking for some documents that I have of him, including photographs, that he had when in Oflag 2C.
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