Maleszewski, Chester J.

Birth Date

1920-07-03

Birthplace

Ramapo, NY

Death Date

2003-04-13

Burial Place

Beal Memorial Cemetery, Fort Walton Beach, FL

Occupation

Employee (Chrysler Corp.)

Business Owner (Chuck and Eddie’s)

Employee (Wright Aeronautical Corporation)

Caddie (Houvenkoft Country Club)

Rank

Sergeant

Serial Number

32460167

Service Start Date

1942-08-15

Service End Date

1946-02-22

Honors

American Campaign Medal (ATO Medal)

World War II Victory Medal

Military Service Description

Chester Maleszewski was drafted and enlisted into the U.S. Army Air Force 1942-08-15. He left 1942-08-29 for his induction at Fort Dix, NJ. Maleszewski and his brother Francis received their first phase of pilot training from the Nashville Army Air Center in TN. They were then transferred to Maxwell Field, AL for the Army Air Forces Pre-Flight School for Pilots in May of 1943 as their second phase of training. Maleszewski was then transferred to Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi, MS to continue his training. While Maleszewski was training to be a pilot, Francis and Joseph got shot down in 1944, only three months apart. Maleszewski was assigned to the 3501st Army Air Force Base Unit. He was responsible for Radar Mech Navigation and pilot training. He was assigned to various Air Force Bases, including Maxwell Air Force Base (AL), Boca Raton Army Air Field (FL), and Souther Field (GA). He was discharged at Camp Blanding, FL on 1946-02-22.

Biographical Text

Chester John “Chuck” Maleszewski, was born to John Sr. and Karolina Maleszewski on 1920-07-03. The Maleszewski's were devout Catholics. Chester was the second oldest child, and oldest son of the Maleszewski’s. His older sister’s name was Teresa. He had seven younger siblings: Francis, Joseph, Stephen, John Jr., Edward, Sophia and Thomas. Maleszewski, Francis (KIA), Joseph (KIA), Stephen, John Jr., and Edward were known as the “Fighting Maleszewski’s.” The Maleszewski family lived on Hines Avenue in Mahwah, NJ. Prior to the war, Maleszewski worked as a golf caddie at the Houvenkoft Country Club. His daughter Angela recalls the stories he told about caddying for Babe Ruth. Maleszewski himself had a love of golf. Maleszewski also worked for Wright Aeronautical Corporation. He graduated from Ramsey High School in 1939. Malezewski was drafted and enlisted in 1942. After the war, the Maleszewski family moved to Florida. Maleszewski, with his brother Edward, ran a nightclub near Chipley, FL called “Chuck and Eddie’s.” Their nightclub soon became a popular landmark for the area of Chipley. Maleszewski met and married Gunda “Irene” Haag. The couple was married for fifty-one years. The two moved to Warren, Michigan and had two daughters: Carolyn and Angela. Maleszewski worked for Chrysler Corp. while the family lived in Michigan. Upon his retirement, Maleszewski returned to Florida and lived near his family until his death on 2003-04-13. He was 82. Maleszewski has three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. His daughter, Angela Bojarski, describes him as, “... a kind, strong, loving man and cherished by all who knew him.”

Family Members

Father: John Sr.
Mother: Karolina (née Kowalczyk)
Siblings: Teresa
Chester
Francis
Joseph
Stephen
Edward
Sophia Burnett (née Maleszewski)
Thomas

Wife: Gunda "Irene" (née Haag)
Children: Carolyn
Hanna
Angela Bojarski

Bibliography

"Allendale Draft Board Sends Large Group for Examination," The News, August 6, 1942, p. 18.

"Big Group Leaves Today For US Army Induction," The Morning Call, August 29, 1942, p. 7.

Chester J Maleszewski, Find a Grave.

Chester J Maleszewski, U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946.

Chester John Maleszewski, U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947.

Chester Maleszewski, Questionnaire, Mahwah Veterans Project.

Maleszewski, Matthew Joseph. The Six Fighting Maleszewski’s. Createspace Independent Publishing Platform, 2015.

"Mahwah Pays Tribute to a Fighting Family," The Record, August 3, 1983, p. 79.

"Mahwah Pilot Is Reported Missing On Italian Front," Ramapo Valley Independent, November 30,1944, p. 5.

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

Photo Captions

Photo 1: Maleszewski in his uniform, place and date unknown, (Angela Bojarski).

Photo 2: Maleszewski’s diploma from Ramsey High School, 1939 (Angela Bojarski).

Photo 3: Maleszewski's draft card completed 1942-02-15, in Ramsey, NJ (Ancestry Library).

Photo 4: Maleszewski posing in his uniform in front of the Maleszewski home on Hines Ave, Mahwah, NJ, date unknown (Angela Bojarski).

Photo 5: Brothers Chester Maleszewski (left) and Francis Maleszewski (right) posing in their uniforms, place and date unknown (Angela Bojarski).

Photo 6: Maleszewski’s individual student flight record while he was stationed at Souther Field, Americus, GA, date unknown (Angela Bojarski).

Photo 7&8: The front and back of a postcard Maleszewski sent to his parents while in flight school. The front depicts the type of plane Maleszewski was to fly, Souther Field, GA, date unknown (Angela Bojarski).

Photo 9: Entrance to "Chuck and Eddie's," a night club ran by brothers Chester and Edward Maleszewski near Chipley, FL, date of photo unknown (Angela Bojarski).

Photo 10: Maleszewski's headstone in Beal Memorial Cemetery, Fort Walton Beach, FL, date of photo unknown (Find a Grave).

Notes

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

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