Stephen J. Lozinski


Capt    0-803236    615th
Pennsylvania
1917 - 1945

Pilot onboard 44-8371 (Badland Bat II)


   

Ardennes cemetery, Belgium.
Plot : B , Row : 42 , Grave : 21.
1917 - 1945






     Stephen was born Dec 2, 1917, in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
     He was the fourth born son of Tekla and Stanislaw Lozinski who immigrated from Poland in 1914.

     Steve, upon graduation from Altoona High School, Class of 1935, went to Rutland to find employment
     whit his Uncle Steve (his mom's brother) who was a painter, artist and church decorator.
     He also spent his summers there when he was a teenager.

     He joined the Air National Guard and upon the United States involvement in World War II, volunteered in
     the Air Force in February, 1941.

     He soon advanced and became a Captain and Squadron leader for 615th BS, 401st BG

     His last mission, Feb 16, 1945, Target Gelsenkirchen, the ship received a direct hit and blew up
     over the target.
     Only the bombardier, Lt. H. E. Hughes, survived.

     He received the DFC with an oak leaf cluster for heroism, the Air Medal with four clusters
     for combat missions flown, the Purple Heart for wounds received in action and the Presidential Unit
     Citation with an oak leaf cluster.

     In 1945, when Steven died on the age of 27 he left behind his family :

         His wife, Helen Agnes Considine, age 23
         His son, Stephen Joseph Jr. , age 1
         His son, Thomas Edward, born 3 months after he died...






     After completing 35 missions, he returned to the States on a 30-day leave in July, 1944.
     He preferred to return to flying for his country and preserving its freedom-one of his comments
     being, "I'd rather fly than eat."

     According to one of his co-pilots, Eldon Child, Steve was a hard nose Bridge player in his spare time
     and a chain smoker.

     He was killed in action Feb 16, 1945 while on his 40th mission bombing refineries over Gelsenkirchen,
     Germany.

     He married Helen Agnes Considine born in Rutland, Vermont on November 13, 1921, the daughter of
     Mary E. (Cain) and Charles J. Considine.
     They were married June 27, 1942 in Rutland, Vermont.

     Their first son, Stephen Joseph Jr. was born November 11, 1943 in Rutland, Vermont.
     His nickname was "Skipper."
     Their second, Thomas Edward, born May 12, 1945 in Rutland, almost 3 months after his father was killed.

     When Tom reached college age, their last name was changed to Lozen.
     His widow, married a second time to James Walter Herlihy. They were married January 18, 1969.

     Besides his wife, two sons and his parents, he was survived by the following:
                    - Brother Thaddeus, his wife Martha (Mentch) and their children, Thelma and Stephen.
                    - Brother Joseph, his wife Dorothy (Stutzman) and their son David
                    - Brother Michael
                    - Brother Benny
                    - Brother Frank and his wife, Rose Lucille (Knott) and their daughters, Diana and Joyce
                    - Sisters Jennie and Stella, at home
     He was also survived by aunts, uncles and cousins in the Rutland, Vermont area.

     I feel it needs mentioned there were four other Steve Lozinski's in the family - his son, my brother, a cousin
     and a cousin once removed!

     Respectfully submitted by his niece, Linda E. (Lozinski) Miller, the youngest child of his oldest brother,
     Thaddeus.



Back Row : Bernard Weber - Kenneth Brock - James Keller - John Williams - Irwin Friedman - Michael Mercuris
Front Row : H. E. Hughes - Stephen Lozinski - Eldon Child - Louis Rush




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