Henry Alfred Popiolek

STAFF SERGEANT HENRY ALFRED POPIOLEK was born in Camden NJ on October 28th, 1920 to Joseph and Rozalia Popiolek, of 1282 Morton Street, Camden NJ. He attended St. Joseph School and Camden Vocational School. He later lived at 1205 Lansdowne Avenue in Camden. He worked for the Campbell Soup Factory in Camden NJ. 

Henry Popiolek entered the Army in September of 1942. Qualifying for flight duty, he trained as a tail-gunner, and served with a bomber squadron flying the B-24 bomber. He shipped out to a base in England in May of 1943. On May 23rd, 1944, while on his 48th mission, the 446th raided the airfields at Orleans, France. The airfield was bombed with good results. One plane, "Wee Willie" (42-7583), was lost when it appeared the bombs were dropped through the closed bomb-bay doors. A piece of the damaged door struck and damaged the plane's tail, causing a spin from which the pilot could not recover. Henry Popiolek and the other 9 member of his crew were killed. 

Henry Popiolek was survived by his parents, a brother, Seaman Second Class Benjamin Popiolek USN, and a sister, Mrs. Adele Baus, of Camden NJ. A Mass was held for him at St. Joseph's Church in Camden on September 16, 1944. His death was reported in the September 15, 1944.

After the war Henry Popiolek was brought home to New Jersey, and he rests in St. Joseph Cemetery on Lower Landing Road in Blackwood, Gloucester Township NJ, next to his parents, and a sister, Dorothy Popiolek, who had preceded him in death.