John Kraynyak
S/Sgt John Kraynyak Jr was assigned to the 301st BG 419th Squadron.
John changed his name to John M. Crane in 1950 from John Kraynyak.
S/SGT John Kraynyak, Jr. 15th Air Force 301st Bombardment Group 419th Bombardment Squadron Stationed at Lucera, Italy March
John Kraynyak, Jr. was an Honor Graduate of the Armament School, Lowry Field, Colorado. While there he was selected as an Armament Officer Candidate. He went on and completed Aerial Gunnery School in Kingman, Arizona. In early 1944, while at Drew Army Air Field near Tampa Florida, he was assigned to Air Crew 165-159 as a Waist Gunner, that was commanded by Capt. Eugene Stanley Mathews of Cleveland, Ohio. Crew #165-159 was assigned B-17G #232105 one of six B-17Gs to receive special training in AZON "Azimuth Only" bombing techniques in late 1943-early 1944 at McDill Field in Tampa Florida. B-17G, serial #232105, christened the "Wolf Shack", was specially modified with AZON equipment at Orlando, Florida. The nose art and tail art (the only B-17 in the 419th squadron with tail art) was done by T/SGT Maurice A. Wood, a Radio Operator/Gunner from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. T/SGT Wood painted the B-17 in the United States prior to taking the aircraft to Italy. The "Wolf Shack" crew, B-17G, #165-159 was:
S/SGT John Kraynyak, Jr.
The following information on John Kraynyak is gathered and extracted from military records. We have many documents and copies of documents, including military award documents. It is from these documents that we have found this information on S/Sgt Kraynyak. These serviceman's records are nowhere near complete and we are always looking for more material. If you can help add to John Kraynyak's military record please contact us.
| Date | Order | Award | Ribbon & Device | Document Originator | Rank | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
06/19/1944 |
General Order (GO)* : 1155 |
AM Air Medal |
|
Issuing Authority: 15th Air Force |
Current Rank: Sgt |
|
06/19/1944 |
General Order (GO)* : 1158 |
AM/1OLC Air Medal Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster |
|
Issuing Authority: 15th Air Force |
Current Rank: Sgt |
|
08/05/1944 |
General Order (GO)* : 2318 |
AM/2OLC Air Medal Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster |
|
Issuing Authority: 15th Air Force |
Current Rank: S/Sgt |
|
09/11/1944 |
General Order (GO)* : 3286 |
AM/3OLC Air Medal Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster |
|
Issuing Authority: 15th Air Force |
Current Rank: S/Sgt |
|
* Documents are of the type/classification of "General Order" for most award documents. The listed documents are GO, General Order unless otherwise stated. For example. Special Orders.
The Issuing Authority is the Command and author of the document.
19 Jun 1944 15th AAF General Order # 1155 Air Medal
19 Jun 1944 15th AAF General Order # 1158 Air Medal/Oak Leaf Cluster
5 Aug 1944 15th AAF General Order # 2318 Air Medal/ 2 Oak Leaf Clusters
11 Sept 1944 15th AAF General Order # 3286 Air Medal/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
5/2/1944
19 Jun 1944 15th AAF General Order # 1155 Air Medal
19 Jun 1944 15th AAF General Order # 1158 Air Medal/Oak Leaf Cluster
5 Aug 1944 15th AAF General Order # 2318 Air Medal/ 2 Oak Leaf Cluster
11 Sept 1944 15th AAF General Order # 3286 Air Medal/ 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
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