Memorials › 2LT Adrian Edward Mazanec

2LT Adrian Edward Mazanec

10 May 1918 – 4 Sep 1945

Birth	10 May 1918
Death	4 Sep 1945
Cemetery	Greenwood Cemetery Chadron , Dawes County , Nebraska , USA
Added by	Robert Sage on 08 May 2014
FaG	https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/100494211

Bio

ADRIAN MAZANEC IS KILLED IN SERVICE Second Lt. Adrian Mazanec, Chadron youth, has been killed on Okinawa, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ed Mazanec, who live at Marsland, from the War Department. The message said that their son had been killed on the island September 4. A fighter pilot for four years, Lt. Mazanec was on a practice flight His plane plunged into the ocean and his body has not been recovered. From the Chadron Record, Chadron, Nebraska, Thursday, September 27, 1945 ADRIAN EDWARD MAZANEC Lt. Adrian Mazanec was born May 10, 1918, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Mazanec, at Archer, Nebraska. At the age of 10 years he moved to Dawes County with his parents where he grew to manhood and was educated, graduating from the rural schools in 1933. Prior to his entrance into the armed force's he had farmed a place neighboring that of his parents. On April 15, 1942, he entered the armed forces and was sent immediately to Lubbock Field, Texas, where he was for one year a member of the ground crew maintaining planes, a work which fascinated him and he spent his spare time taking private flying lessons. He took advantage of a test that was given for those who wished to qualify for officers training in the Air Corps. Passing this test, he was sent to Sheppard Field, Texas, a distribution center from where he was sent to Butler University, Indianapolis, Indiana. After completing his course there he was sent to San Antonio, Texas, for his pre-flight training. He took additional training in Coleman, Texas, his basic training at Sherman, Texas, and advanced flying at Foster Field, Victoria, Texas, where on July 27, 1944, he received his wings. He stayed at this base for six weeks and studied aerial gunnery. He received a 10-day furlough and at the close of this he went to Baton Rouge and then to Ft. Sumner, N. M. On April 25. 1945, he was sent to Newport, Va., bound for Germany. Due to the surrender of Germany he returned to Fort Sumner and was sent to the west coast. From there he flew to New Guinea where in July he realized his ambition an was assigned to the 40th Fighter Squadron, 35th Group, flying P-51 Mustangs. He Rad the unique honor of being one of the escort fighters who witnessed the dropping of the atomic bomb on Japan. At this time, he was stationed on Okinawa where he met his brother, George, who had been here since two days after the beachhead had been established. Adrian met his death on Sept. 4. 1945, after taking off on an air strike on Okinawa when mechanical failure forced his plane into the Pacific. He is survived by his mother and father, four brothers. Ernest and George, recently discharged from the army. Emery of Hemingford and Arnold at home, also three sisters, Mrs. Elmer Lehl, Hemingford, Genevieve, Flushing, New York and Mary at home. Memorial services for Lt. Mazanec were held at the Open Door on Sunday, October, 21, at 2:30 o'clock in the afternoon. The service was conducted by Julius Kohler. Music was furnished by a quartet. Clair Moody, a close friend of Adrian's who was recently discharged, participated in the service, as did the Hemingford American Legion. From the Chadron Record, Chadron, Nebraska, Tuesday, October 30, 1945.

Inscription

NEBRASKA 2ND LIEUT 40 AAF FIGHTER SQ WORLD WAR II

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