Biography & WWII Memoirs of Lt. Paul F. Kisak Sr.

by Paul F. Kisak, II, Paul F. Kisak

This biography was written to memorialize his life and assist others in their genealogy research.The personal memoirs (1923 - 1979) and military diary (Oct. 1942 - Oct. 1945) of USAAF Flight Officer Lt. Paul F. Kisak Sr. during WWII training and as Navigator of B-17 ("Big Stuff") of 15th USAAF, 20th Bomb Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group, .Lt. Paul F. Kisak Sr. was a decorated WWII Veteran and Hero having served 3 years. He was awarded The US Air Medal and The US Purple Heart among others awards. Lt. Paul F. Kisak Sr. enlisted and worked his way up to the rank of Lieutenant & Flight Officer-Bombardier-Navigator. He was stationed in Foggia Italy and the crew had completed 12 successful bomb runs. On 23 March 1945, B-17 #452, "Big Stuff," a/c 44-6452 during Mission #384, bombed a benzene, oil refinery base in Rhuland, Germany at 12:20 pm and an altitude of 28,000 feet. Kisak was the navigator and their B-17 was shot down over Kety, Poland whereupon the crew was reported as MIA and later POW. He went on to excel in civilian life and create a legacy of charity, self-sacrifice, ambition and service.His brother Walter served in The USAAF (WWII) and his brother Thomas served in The USA (Korean War).This book is presented with an emphasis on photos and scanned documents in a 'scrap book' format That WWII Diary entries are being enhanced for a future edition. Assembled with the assistance of Catherine M. Kisak, Thomas P. Kisak and Janusz Wróbel. Paul F. Kisak Sr. was a Son, a Brother, a Husband, a Father, an Uncle, a decorated Flight Officer during WWII, an athlete (played softball for Rudy's Grill and became known as Ozark for his power-hitting capability, a business owner, a business executive, a devout Catholic, an accomplished pilot, a Knight of Columbus, an artist, acted as a doctor(Dr. Bun) in a High School Play, a musician (skilled in accordion and organ), rode 'shotgun' with a race car driver as his navigator, a woodworker, a winemaker, a horticulturist, loved Polka Dancing, a life-long blood donor and a documented genius. He was extremely generous and known as a charismatic leader and very proud of his Croatian descent.Mr. Kisak was the first of his family to be born in the United States and the first to graduate college with a Bachelors from Benjamin Franklin University, and Robert Morris College using the GI Bill and hard work. He loved to read, travel, fly, entertain and took extreme pride in his heritage, his family and his work. He was a self-made man who was meticulous, and an extremely hard worker and placed a very high value on education and self-sacrifice. His genealogy records can be found at this site: biography was written to memorialize his life and assist others in their genealogy research.All artifacts and reports have been donated to the following museums: Institute on World War II & the Human Experience*** DVD Sent 11/2/13*** Dad's Locker and artifacts sent and received 1/7/2014Andrew ThompsonArchival AssistantInstitute on World War II & the Human ExperienceFlorida State University401 Bellamy Bldg.113 Collegiate LoopTallahassee, FL 32306-2200(850) 644-9033II(DVD sent 1/24/2014) Air Force Historical Research Agency600 Chennault CircleMaxwell AFB, AL 36112-6424Phone: (334) 953-2241(DVD sent 1/24/2014) National D-Day Memorial Foundation*P.O. Box 79Bedford, VA 24523Phone: 800-586-3329Note: Focus is on D-Day and World War II.(DVD sent 1/24/2014) The National WWII Museum *945 Magazine StreetNew Orleans, LA 70130Phone: (504) 527-6012(DVD sent 1/24/2014) George C. Marshall Research Library/Archives*VMI ParadeLexington, VA 24450Phone: (540) 463-7103 extension 230 _library_archives.html(DVD Sent 1/26/2014) to Fort Bliss Museums and Study Center*