Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: Keith Melofchik
On: 11/13/2002

I'm trying to find someone who might have a photograph of the B-17G that my uncle was flying when he was shot down over Chartes, France on 08/01/44. Any other information concerning my uncle or his crew would also be appreciated. The planes serial number was 42-39873.

Thanks,

KHM

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: Scott McElvain
On: 11/16/2002

I'm away from home right now, but if Don Byers doesn't post a reply before I do, I will look up the plane and see if photos exist when I get back home....

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: Donald Byers
On: 11/18/2002

http://401bg.com/history/crew.asp?cid=13291

Go to this page. It is a new part of the 401st database. If the page doesn't take you there then go to the home page and look under crew listings in the upper right hand corner it will take you to the whole list of pilots and their crews and mission information. B17-Nose Art Directory indicates no picture of this air craft.

Also Your want to write for the IDPF file. And you can do this as follows:

GENERAL INQUIRIES

1. How can I obtain a copy of an unaccounted- for service member’s Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)?

To request a copy of an unaccounted-for service member’s IDPF, family members should submit their request to our office via phone, 1-800-892-2490 or e-mail, tapcper@hoffman.army.mil

Don Byers

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: Ryan Melofchik
On: 05/19/2003

i ran a search on the last name and the forum appered with your name

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: Elmer Cheatham
On: 06/28/2003

I was on the original crew of Stormy Weather. Our pilot was Vincent J. Kaminski, I was radio operator. We received the plane at Lewistown, Montana, and flew it overseas. I completed my 30 missions on May 19, 1943 and came home later that Summer. I have some pictures of the plane. They are not the greatest, but if you are interested, let me know your mailing address and I will send copies to you. (If you want, I can send them as email attachments. I have 7 pictures to send and can send only one or two at the time because of limitations by my server).Only one of them has the name of the plane, the others are various shots from different angles and include one of our waist gunners, Jay Loadholt and me. My home address is 692 NE Jamie Drive, Hillsboro, OR 97124, home phone 503-640-3928, cell phone 503-577-9977. My wife is in a nursing home and I spend most of the day and early evening with her. If you would like the pictures or any other information I might be able to provide, let me know.
Elmer

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: keith melofchik
On: 10/03/2003

Elmer,

I saw the email from my nephew Ryan. I have been looking for photographs of Stormy Weather for some time. My Uncle Gerard Melofchik was the pilot when they were shot down over France. I have all the original documents sent to my Grand Parents by the Department of War which detail the event. If you could send me a copy of each photo I would really appreciate it. I will pay for them if you like. Please send them to:

Keith Melofchik
P.O. Box 469
Long Valley, NJ 07853

You can reach me at the email address above or at my office 201/547-3868 or toll free 1800-332-4813.

thanks

Keith Melofchik

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: Joan Melofchik
On: 01/24/2004

Keith did you ever get these pictures.Mom

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: jean Pierre
On: 03/14/2004

Bonjour Monsieur,
I have just discovered your message on the web.
I live in Chartres, and I do some research on the pilots allied during World War II.
I am president of The association " Forced landing ."
I join the address of the site internet.
I worked a lot on the history of the two B17 of the 401 BG " Jeannne and Stormy Weather "
I know the exact place of the crashs.
Stormy Weather : village of Néron. Jeanne : village of Poisvilliers.
I met Hal Mapes, at the time of his/her/its arrival in Chartres.
I would wish to correspond with you, and to speak of Lieutenant Melofchick.
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/forcedlanding/

I join a photo of a piéce of the B17 Stormy Weather, I think that it is a piece of the exhaust of the motor
Sincerely
Jean Pierre

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: jean Pierre
On: 03/14/2004

Stormy Weather co-pilot Richard Mallon

Posted:
By: Ben Mallon
On: 03/22/2004

My name is Ben Mallon, my dad Richard William Mallon flew Stormy Weather several times. I have seen a photograph at home of him and his crew in front of a B-17, I am not sure if it is Stormy Weather. I plan to visit Mom and Dad in April, I will be glad to ask if he has any photos. I can take them home and scan them and send them in to the Association.

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: Keith Melofchik
On: 06/08/2004

Jean Pierre,

I was glad to see your email in reference to "Stormy Weather".  Lt. Gerard Melofchik was my uncle.  I never met him as he died when my father was still young and not married.  aI would be very interested in any and all of your information concerning my uncle and Stormy Weather.  One of my first cousins discovered that Gerard was buried in France and then his body was moed to the US.  My grandparents never knew this.  I pasted her email below.  Maybe there is some info you do not have.  Please get back to me as my dad is very interested in what happened to his brother.  Also, if you have any pictures of Stormy Weather that you could forward, that would be great.  I had some that I received from another gentleman here in the US but my hard drive crashed and I lost them as well as his name. I was trying  to find it when I came across your email.  Below is my cousins email.

Thanks,

Keith Melofchik

You may have already had this forwarded to you by Neil, but just in case I send it along.

I expect some files in the mail any day now.  When I first got back from Paris I did a lot of research.  I will try and pick it up again.  It is our busy season now here at work.  Anyway, I’ll keep you updated.  I may take a walk along the Mall tomorrow to see if I can learn something from the organizations sure to be around.

Do either of you know why Gerard was awarded the Air Medal?

Beth

I just returned from France, where using the information provided by the international visitor from last May, I succeeded in finding the small village where Gerard’s plane crashed and the hamlet where the monument is located.

Located in the Eure et Loire about an hour from Paris (were one able to read French maps, I got lost 4 times, but lovely countryside in which to do so).  I just kept heading in the general direction I thought I needed and eventually I came to Neron, where the plane had crashed.  It is an agricultural region, quite picturesque.  I went on down the road and came to Feucherolles.  The monument is easy to find as Feucherolles is a hamlet, one cross roads, where the monument stands.  It is a lovely setting, chestnut trees and a bench beneath, very peaceful.

Just as my friend and I were preparing to leave, having seen not a soul, an elderly man was walking out of his farmyard.  It turns out that he was 13 in 1944.  August 1 was a foggy morning.  They were all out in the fields bringing in the harvest.  He heard the plane come in, low and loud, followed by a German fighter.  The plane crashed in a field, upside down, but mostly intact, missing the tail.  In nearby Neron, villagers had observed how the pilot endeavored, to avoid crashing in the village.

The crew was buried locally by the Germans.  As France was liberated, the bodies were exhumed by the army and relocated to US cemeteries. This man recounted with some consternation, the exhumation, as the village was not consulted, nor were they consulted or invited when the plaque was erected but a few years ago.

He shared with us that a British plane went down a few months before, crash landed.  Most of the crew survived the crash, but not the welcome of the Wehrmacht.  The square is named June 16, 1940 in memory of the 40 Senegalese troops who had the misfortune of having to stop there the German invasion and perished.

A most worthwhile journey and as you can imagine, my parents are very pleased.

I carried with me photos of Steve and Pauline, one circa 1940 and one circa 1960.

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: Keith Melofchik
On: 06/08/2004

Elmer,

I know I corresponded with you back in March of last year. You forwarded the photos of Stormy Weather to me. My hard drive recently crashed and I had not yet printed the photos. I lost all of my research on Stormy Weather. I would appreciate if you could send the photos again, or make reprints of the originals which I would gladly pay you for. Thanks Again.

Keith Melofchik

W-973/286-4960

Re: Stormy Weather co-pilot Richard Mallon

Posted:
By: Jean PIERRE
On: 08/05/2004

Bonjour,
I thank you.
All my apologies for the delay.
I have a lot of work and me now on vacation.
I am interested indeed by the photos of Stormy Weather.
Here is my address.
Jean PIERRE
2 Hameau du Nivernais
28110 Lucé
France.
Sincerely
Jean PIERRE

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: Jean PIERRE
On: 08/05/2004

Bonjour,
Name name is Jean PIERRE.
I am president of an assiciation French who does some research on the crashs during World War II.
I live in meadows of Chartres, and I worked a lot on the history of the two B17 of the 401 bomb group fallen to the vicinity of Chartres the august/8/1944.
I met Harold E.Mapes at the time of his/her/its pilgrimage in Chartres.
We visited the places of the crash.
I am interested by all information on these crews.
I join the address internet of the site, you will find the history of these men.
http://perso.wanadoo.fr/forcedlanding/
here is my adresse :
Jean Pierre
2 Hameau du Nivernais
28110 Lucé
France
Sincerely
Jean

Re: Lt. G. J. Melofchik/Stormy Weather

Posted:
By: jean PIERRE
On: 08/05/2004

Bonjour,

One thousand apology for the delay in the answer. I had some problems with my computer.
I bought a new computer.
I learned your passage to Chartres.
I am distressed, I would have liked to meet you.
Have visited you our site internet.
I join the adresse : http://perso.wanadoo.fr/forcedlanding /
Can communicate yourselves me your address, for the consignment of document.
Me possessed a photo of Bozarth and one of Mapes, as well as a photo of Stormy Weather.
Hal, gave me a photo of the crew of the Lt Sproul.
If you possess some photos, I am interested for copies.
I pay for the expenses.
Did you visit the village of Néron?.
Did you see the piece of the wing of the plane in the farm ?

Sincerely
Jean PIERRE