?»?Chester A Stelmach 1923 to 1944
Chester A Stelmach was born in 1923, the son of Polish immigrants in Camden N.J. He Attended St. Joseph High School. There he excelled in academics, played Basketball and was popular with his peers and staff.
In 1943 he and a group of other men in his neighborhood enlisted to serve in WW2.Chester went into the Army Air Corps. There he flew the PT17 and the AT6.He was sent to Abilene TX for Transitional training in the P47.The Army was preparing 2ndLT Stelmach to fight in the Pacific. On Aug 9, 1944 He took off in P47C 42-23097.Shortly after takeoff he reported propeller problems. After circling to land on final approach, The Controller advised him that his landing gear wasn't all the way down. At this point he applied power to go around again. Over the end of runway 17 at 500, he started a slow climbing left turn with Flaps down. The plane went into an unusual attitude, crashed and burst into flames killing 2nd LT Stelmach. The official report said the cause of the crash was Pilot error. But a close inspection of the accident report could make one think there may have been a problem with the plane. The officer who accompanied his body back to New Jersey for burial told the family unofficially there was a problem with the plane. This was a tragedy for his family and community.
I never had the chance to know Uncle Chester. He lost his young life in the service of his Country, 18 years before i was born.
Chris Colacci