Joseph Herman Pietsker (1917 - 1944)

Born 28 Apr 1917 in Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, USA

Ancestors

Died 18 Jan 1944 at age 26 in Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama, USA

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Biography

Son of Herman and Ellen (Pennel) Pietsker, and husband of Sybil Fae Graham Pietsker. A son was born shortly before his death.

He was one of 311 members of the AVG (American Volunteer Group) Flying Tigers as a photographer and was honorably discharged July 4, 1942 when the unit was disbanded.^[1] He re-enlisted in the Army Air Force and was killed in an accident at the Birmingham Army Air Base in Alabama.

"Joe Pietsker and James Regis were our photographers. I never directly worked with the photo equipment. The photo missions were often deep into enemy territory and I'm sure the possibility of engine failure and capture was a concern."^[2]

Register of the China Defense Supplies Records housed at Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA contains an archive entitled "Pietsker Films, 1942-1943" in Box 31/Folder 2.^[3]

From "The Pontiac Press", 1942-Sep

Pontiac Flying Tiger Home After a Year Fighting Japs, by George Hilton

While the glory, valor and heroism of America's "flying tigers" in China and India will probably live forever in the story of this war, you will hear very little of it from Joseph H. Pietsker, retiring Pontiac member of the American volunteer group.

"Bud" Pietsker -- young, blond and dashing as anything Hollywood could produce for the part -- had a regular berth on this All America team playing an aerial football game of death with the Jap. The score, when the game ended temporarily, was something like 200 to 6 -- in favor of freedom. What were the plays, who scored the touchdowns that meant death in the China and India skies?

"Well, there's nothing to tell," Pietsker says. "We went over there to fight for the Chinese, the guys did a job and now we're back. That's all."

In July 1941, "Bud" Pietsker was a member of the U. S. Army Air forces stationed with headquarters detail at Selfridge Field. Before the month closed he was on his way to Burma, a member of a group of adventurous, fighting army, navy and marine corps fliers who had volunteered to fight overseas -- who and where they didn't know.

Was Military Secret

The American volunteer group was formed under the China Relief Bill of 1933 and the action was marked by Washington as a military secret.

When the group reached Burma some 30 days after leaving this country, Pietsker says they were told the job that had been cut out for them by Gen. Chennault, commander of the "flying tigers." "Right then some of the boys thought the thing over and decided it wasn't too hot an idea. Most of them stuck, though, and when we were discharged July 4, about 210 were on our way home. We lost six pilots to combat."

"First visit the Japs made upon us was before our ships had arrived from Rangoon. We were at Toungoo when the air raid warnings were set up. In China the warning is a series of red balls set on a post. We were sitting around this day when a Chinese boy came running through the place shouting, 'Jin boo, Jin boo.' This meant air raid and the first red ball went up. Normally that meant a half hour until the Japs arrived, but we heard the bombs immediately. Then the second red ball -- a 10 minute warning -- and another bomb stick. We ran from the building, dashed into a car and headed out of town. The sticks were falling closer so we took to the ditches and let the car go.

"My lasting impression of that action was Young (another flier) diving head first into the ditch and pulling grass over his head while another part of his anatomy presented a perfectly exposed target. Dirt from the bomb craters scattered over us as the Japs flew by."

Down 9 Out of 10

The first time the flying tigers met the Japs in action it was a little different story. Ten Jap fighters came over, probably on their way to bomb the Burma road . . . nine of them will never drink saki again.

Sitting beside his attractive wife, who is employed at the Pontiac Motor division, Pietsker told of ?? fighting retreat from China and then India. From Sarabao, Singapore, Toungoo, Lashio, Rangoon the "flying tigers" fought way of Jap fighters which roared from the jungles of French Indo China. There's no glamour, no heroics in these places for him. "It was just hard work and lousy food -- eggs and rice."

Just to top off a perfect year of fighting, Pietsker was torpedoed on his way across the Pacific ocean. "That's nothing. A lot of people have been torpedoed," he shrugged, and the subject was closed.

And what is a flyer with Pietsker's hard gained fighting experience going to do now? Well, believe it or not, the U.S. Army Air Forces have accepted him. He has passed examinations at Selfridge field and is now waiting call -- as an aviation cadet to learn to fly!

From “The Daily Monitor Leader”, 1942-Dec-10

Flier Wants to Take Snap Shots at Japs

SELFRIDGE. FIELD, Mich., Dec 10 — Joseph E. Pietsker of Pontiac, Mich, left this Army Air Base 18 months ago to join the Flying Tigers, whom he served until last July. Now he’s on his way back into the Army Air Forces, but not as an aerial photographer. This time he's out to earn a pilot's rating.

Pietsker re-enlisted here recently in Air Forces Enlisted Reserve, has qualified for appointment as an Aviation Cadet, and now is in Pontiac, awaiting assignment to training early in 1943.

A graduate of Pontiac High school in 1937, Pietsker earned a civilian pilot’s license the same year. He enlisted at Field on Oct. 24, 1939. specialized in aerial photography, and was graduated from the Air Corps Training school, photographic course, on Aug. 2. 1940. Pietsker was discharged here on June 16. 1941. when he signed up with the American Volunteer Group (the Flying Tigers.)

Aerial photography on reconnaissance duty still was Pietsker's specialty while serving the AVG in Asia from August 15. 1941. until July 4. 1942.

But Pietsker wants no part of photography now. His desire is to become a pilot. That's why he is eager for air crew training as an Aviation Cadet.

Pietsker was born in Pontiac on April 2, 1916. He and his wife now reside in Pontiac at 144 Ogemaw Road.^[4]

From "The Battle Creek Enquirer", 1944-Jan-20

FLYING TIGERS PIONEER DIES IN CRASH

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- (UP) -- A pioneer member of the Flying Tigers in China, Staff Sergt. Joseph Pietsker of Pontiac, Mich., was among nine men killed Tuesday night when a heavy bomber from Will Rogers Field, Okla., crashed and burned here, the Birmingham army base announced today.

Pietsker had served under Clare Chennault in the service of the Chinese army. He first was assigned to combat duty and then to duty as an aerial photographer in a reconnaissance squadron. Pietsker had learned photography in a Pontiac studio following his graduation from high school. ^[5]

From the "Chicago Tribune", 1944-Jan-20

BOMBER CRASH KILLS 9 ABOARD; ONE SURVIVES

Birmingham, Ala., Jan. 19 (AP). -- The Birmingham News and Age Herald announced preparation of a formal protest to the war department and office of censorship over alleged interference with a staff photographer assigned to take pictures of a bomber crash. The plane crashed after taking off from the Birmingham base last night. Nine men were killed and a tenth was critically injured. Among those killed were Sgt. Dennis Ryan Jr., Mason City, Ia., and Staff Sgt. Joseph H. Pietsker, Pontiac, Mich. ^[6]

From "The Daily Oklahoman", 1944-Jan-20

Nine are Killed as City-Based Plane Crashes

Col. B. S. Thompson, commanding officer of Will Rogers field, announced Wednesday that nine men were killed and one injured Tuesday night in the crash of a B-24 bomber near Birmingham, Ala.

The bomber, based in the city field, crashed about 10:30 p.m., he said. A board of officers began an investigation to determine the cause. The ship was on a routine training flight.

Wives of four of the men killed live in Oklahoma City.

The dead: ...

S Sgt. Joseph H. Pietsker. His wife Sybil Fae lives at 4401 N Georgia, Oklahoma City. His sister, Helen Kuhne, lives at Pontiac, Michigan. ... ^[7]

From the "Tyler Morning Telegraph", 1944-Jan-20

Nine Men Killed in Plane Crash Near Birmingham

OKLAHOMA CITY, Jan 19 (AP). -- Nine men were killed and a tenth seriously injured Tuesday in the crash near Birmingham, Ala., of a B-24 Liberator bomber from Will Rogers field here, it was announced Wednesday by Col. B. S. Thompson, commanding officer at Will Rogers. ...

The dead: ...

Staff Sgt. Joseph H. Pietsker, photographer, Pontiac, Mich. ... ^[8]

From findagrave.com^[9]

Staff Sergeant Pietsker served with the 9th Photo Reconnaissance Group, 11th Combat Mapping Squadron at Will Rogers Field, Oklahoma.

He was one of nine airmen killed when B-24D Liberator #42-41208 crashed near the runway at Birmingham Army Air Base, Alabama.

The other airmen lost in the accident:

1st Lt. Louis A. Fiset, pilot

2nd Lt. Lester R. Handley

T/Sgt. Roy M. Bunn

Sgt. James H. Beckham

Sgt. James P. Hope

Sgt. Henry K. James

Sgt. Donald Levengood

Sgt. Dennis P. Ryan, Jr.

Sources

Census

Pontiac, Oakland Co., Michigan, USA, "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQ1G-FWK : accessed 11 October 2015), Joseph Pietsker in household of Helen Piette, Pontiac, Oakland, Michigan, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0074, sheet 14A, family 395, line 2, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1018; FHL microfilm 2,340,753.

Travel

Return to USA from India on the Usat Mariposa. "New York, New York Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925-1957," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2425-BSP : accessed 11 October 2015), Joseph Pietsker, 1942; citing Immigration, New York, New York, United States, NARA microfilm publication T715 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.).

Death

"United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JYVH-K27 : accessed 11 October 2015), Joseph Pietsker, Jan 1944; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).

Birmingham, Jefferson Co., Alabama, USA, Alabama Deaths, 1908-1974," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:J6MM-BWM : accessed 12 October 2015), Joseph Herman Pietsker, 18 Jan 1944; citing reference cn 1119, Department of Health, Montgomery; FHL microfilm 1,908,634.

Find A Grave: Memorial #51314366

Burial: Andersonville Cemetery, Andersonville, Oakland Co., Michigan, USA

Footnotes

1. ↑ http://www.flyingtigersavg.com/index.php/rosters-of-the-avg/53-roster-1
2. ↑ Flying Tiger: A Crew Chief's Story : the War Diary of a Flying Tiger American Volunteer Group Crew Chief with the 3rd Pursuit Squadron by Terry M. Losonsky, Schiffer Military/Aviation History, 1996
3. ↑ http://www.oac.cdlib.org/findaid/ark:/13030/kt867nf78s/entire_text/
4. ↑ “The Daily Monitor Leader”, (Mount Clemens, Michigan), 10 Dec 1942, page 9, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114803856/re-enlists/
5. ↑ "The Battle Creek Enquirer", (Battle Creek, Michigan), 1944-Jan-20, page 5, https://www.newspapers.com/image/204452808/
6. ↑ "Chicago Tribune", (Chicago, Illinois), 1944-Jan-20, page 10, https://www.newspapers.com/image/195796745/
7. ↑ "The Daily Oklahoman", (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma), 1944-Jan-20, page 5, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62248779/the-daily-oklahoman/
8. ↑ "Tyler Morning Telegraph", (Tyler, Texas), 1944-Jan-20, page 7, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/62249823/tyler-morning-telegraph/
9. ↑ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=51314366