Maleszewski, Francis P.

Michelle Kukan

1922-06-27

Ramapo, NY

1944-11-11

Beal Memorial Cemetery, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Second Lieutenant

O-820288

32596143

1942-12-01

1944-11-11

Air Medal

Purple Heart

Soldier's Medal

Presidential Unit Citation Ribbon

Distinguished Flying Cross

Francis Maleszewski enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Force on 1942-12-01. Maleszewski and his brother Chester received their first phase of pilot training from the Nashville Army Air Center in TN. They were then transferred to Maxwell Field, Alabama for the Army Air Forces Pre-Flight School for Pilots in May of 1943 as their second phase of training. Maleszewski was shipped overseas in June of 1943 and assigned to the 86th Fighter Group, 527th Fighter Squadron of the 12th Air Force. As a pilot of a P-47 Thunderbolt Fighter Plane, he completed 43 missions. He also earned the Soldier's Medal for saving five Italian nuns from a flood. On a surveillance mission, Frank led his squadron in an attack on an armored German vehicle column. The squadron destroyed/damaged 457 enemy ground craft and inflicted an estimated 2,000 casualties. Military records allege that this was in retaliation for his brother, Joseph’s death. Second Lieutenant Maleszewski was reported missing in action after his 44th mission after being shot down over Venice, Italy on 1944-11-11. His status of MIA was changed to declared dead while missing as his body was never recovered. His death date is stated as 1944-11-11, three days before he was to return to America. He was 22.

Francis Peter “Frank” Maleszewski, was born in Ramapo, New York to John Sr. and Karolina Maleszewski on 1922-06-27. The Maleszewski family moved to Mahwah in 1927 and lived on Hines Avenue. Maleszewski had two older siblings: Teresa and Chester. His younger siblings include: Joseph, Stephen, John Jr., Edward, Sophia, and Thomas. Maleszewski, Chester, Joseph, Stephen, John Jr, and Eddie, all served in the military during World War II and received the nickname “The Fighting Maleszewski’s.” The Maleszewski’s were devout Catholics. Prior to his military career, Maleszewski worked for the Wright Aeronautical Company. He attended one year of college before enlisting into the military in 1942. Maleszewski Court in Mahwah, NJ is named after him and his brother, Joseph.

Memorial Day Parade Program, May 25, 1988 (Lee Vold Collection, Mahwah Museum).

"With The Colors," The Morning Call, May 18, 1943, p. 7.

Photo 1: Maleszewski in uniform, place and date unknown (Matthew Maleszewski). 

Photo 2: Maleszewski's draft registration card, completed 1942-06-30 in Ramsey, NJ (Ancestry Library). 

Photo 3: Brothers Chester Maleszewski (left) and Francis Maleszewski (right) posing in their uniforms, place and date unknown (Angela Bojarski). 

Photo 4: Maleszewski in the Army Air Force, place and date of photo unknown (Ramapo Valley Independent).

Photo 5: Maleszewski's headstone in Beal Memorial Cemetery, FL, date of photo unknown (Find a Grave).

The name of Maleszewski’s older sister has also been listed as Theresa, Agnes, and Stella.