Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Kozlowski, Walter A. (Second World War correspondence)
2017.239.w.r
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Center for American War Letters Archives
Title: Walter A. Kozlowski Second World War correspondence
Creator:
Kozlowski, Walter A.
source:
Reidenbach-Sturino, June
Identifier/Call Number: 2017.239.w.r
Physical Description:
0.08 Linear feet
(1 folder)
Date (inclusive): 1941 October 14 - 1943 June 7
Abstract: This collection contains letters from 2nd Lt. Walter A. Kozlowski to his friend and colleague Joseph Weyres during the Second
World War. Kozlowski and 13 people on the aircraft named "Bastard" were lost at sea on October 29, 1943 when the plane crashed
over Puerto Rico.
Physical Description: One letter dated August 5, [194_] has significant damage to what appears to be chew marks of a pest. The letter has multiple
holes from this pest.
Language of Material:
English
.
Container: WWII 5
Container: 9
Container: 1
This collection is open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of June Reidenbach-Sturino
This collection is arranged by material type, author, and date. Informational material provided by the donor placed behind
correspondence.
Second Lieutenant Walter A. Kozlowski was born May 1917 in Claremont, New Hamphire to his father William Kozel Kozlowski and
his mother Cecelia Filipowicz. The family moved to Kenosha, Wisconsin in 1918. Walter had 2 sisters and a brother, all of
whom are currently deceased. His 1936 Kenosha High School yearbook states that his hobby was swimming. It is unknown whether
he finished high school, for the donor believes he only attended 2 years. Walter worked at Godski Awning in Racine, Wisconsin
with Joseph Weyres before Walter enlisted on June 24, 1941. The pair were co-workers and hunting buddies.
Access Information
Donor retains any copyright and related rights. For more information, consult original donation form.[Item title, Box number, Folder number], Walter A. Kozlowski Second World War correspondence (2017.239.w.r.), Center for American
War Letters Archives, Chapman University, CA.
This collection contains nine correspondence from 2nd Lt. Walter A. Kozlowski to his friend and colleague Joseph Weyres during
the Second World War. This collection also contains a note from the donor as well as 5 packets of biographical background
information that was arranged by the donor and 3 photocopies newspaper clippings.
The letters describe his basic training and pilot school in San Diego, California, Fort Worden, Washington, and Oxnard and
Lemoore, California. His squadron was the 446th Bomb Group and his plane was named the "Bastard." On October 29, 1943, the
plane took off from Morrison Field in West Palm Beach, Florida with 14 people, 10 crewmen including Walter, and 4 passengers,
aboard. The names of the members of the plane are included in one of the packets provided by the donor. The plane promptly
crashed over Puerto Rico, prompting a search for the members of the plane who were presumably lost at sea. These rescue efforts
were abandoned on November 16, 1943. Mr. and Mrs. Kozlowski were notified of their son's death February 28, 1944. This correspondence
is to Joseph Weyres, the grandfather of the donor. Walter worked at Godski Awning in Racine, Wisconsin with Weyres before
Walter enlisted on June 24, 1941. The pair were co-workers and hunting buddies. In his letters, Walter discusses an assortment
of different topics such as guns, flying, planes, and his living arrangements and the area surrounding the multiple places
he was stationed. Walter brings up the topic of hunting many times in his letters, always stating that he wished he could
hunt with Joseph and that they would do so after the war. Some letters of interest include the letter dated August 5, 194_.
This letter is severely damaged from what looks to be chewing of some pest and is placed in the collection using context clues
from the letters as the letter had no discernable year. In this letter, Walter mentions his trip to Hollywood and some of
the sights there. In the letter dated April 7, 1943 has a beautiful golden letterhead of a plane which Walter states is a
BT-15. In this letter he talks about his schedule and his trip to see the giant Redwoods. In the letter dated June 6, 1943,
Walter goes into detail about the planes he has flown and some of their mechanics.
There are no restrictions on the use of this material except where previously copyrighted material is concerned. It is the
responsibility of the researcher to obtain all permissions. For further copyright information, please contact the archivist.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
World War II
World War (1939-1945)
Correspondence -- World War, 1939-1945
World War (1939-1945) -- Casualties
World War (1939-1945) -- Missing in action.
Air pilots, military
Flight schools
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, American
Weyres, Joseph
Reidenbach-Sturino, June