Joseph B Stahl Memorial Post 30

Longevity Awards

The following longevity awards were presented at the 62nd anniversary dinner.

Stanley Lawruk                                                         60 years

Roland W Lawhead                                                   60 years

Joseph Cannon                                                         50 Years

Edward J Pucylowski                                                 50 years

Richard A Kemske                                                     50 years

Congratulation Stan, on the award from the French President and the nomination and presentation to the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame. Stan has been a true and loyal member for 55 years.  He has diligently worked to promote Stahl Post 30. Thank you for your service.

Ambassade de France

aux Etats-Vnis

L'Ambassadeur

Washington, December 30, 2011

Dear Mr. Lawruk:

I am pleased to inform you that by decree of President Sarkozy on

December 7, 2011, you have been appointed a "Chevalier" of the

Legion of Honor.

This award testifies to President Sarkozy’s high esteem for your merits

and accomplishments- In particular. it is a sign of France’s infinite

gratitude and appreciation for your personal and precious contribution

to the United States’ decisive role in the liberation of our country

during World War II.

The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon in 1802 to

acknowledge services rendered to France by persons of exceptional

merit. The French people will never forget your :courage and your

devotion to the great cause of freedom.

It is a true pleasure for me to convey to you our sincere and warm

congratulations.

In order to determine the means of bestowing the insignia upon you,

please contact our General Consulate in Washington (4101 Reservoir

Road, NW Washington, DC 20007- Tel. 202 944 62 11). Naturally, I

remain at your disposal in this regard.

Once again, my heartfelt congratulations

�

        Sincerely,

�

      François Delattre

                                         

                                                        STANLEY P. LAWRUK 

 

 

 

 

Biography 

 

 

• Born in 1924 

• Raised on the East side of Wilmington, DE 

• Three brothers and three sisters 

• Describes himself as just a regular kid growing up during the Depression 

• Early morning he sold newspapers at the Wilmington Marine Terminal to 

workers boarding the ferry to the DuPont plant in New Jersey (before the 

Delaware Memorial Bridge was built) 

• Sold newspapers after school at the corner of 4th & Market Streets in 

Wilmington 

• Was a pretty good baseball player as a teenager (still an avid Phillies fan) 

• Attended P.S. DuPont High School in Wilmington 

• Had to leave high school to help his mother after two of his brothers 

joined the service 

• Worked as a clerk at the American Store (now Acme) until age 18 

• He and a friend tried to join the Seabees. After some bargaining they 

were accepted but the Army overruled and said “You're in the Army now” 

• Served with the Army Air Force from January 1943 to October 1945 

• Married in November 1946 to Pearl DeLucia 

• Together they raised three children, Kathy, Stan and Tim 

• They have six grandchildren and five great-grandchildren 

 

 

 

MILITARY PHOTOGRAPH OF STANLEY LAWRUK

 

 

 

                                                                          Military History 

 

 

• Inducted January 19, 1943 age 18 

• Received basic training in Miami, Florida 

• Attended Airplane Mechanic School in Gulfport, Mississippi 

• Attended Boeing Flying Fortress School in Seattle, Washington 

• Attended Gunnery School in Las Vegas, Nevada 

• Flew with a new B-17 from Salt Lake City Utah to Maine, onto Ireland and 

finally to his home base in Podington England 

• Flew 24 combat bombardment missions between May and August 1944 out of 

Podington Air Base over France, Belgium & Germany with the 8th Air Force 

(The Mighty 8th) and as a member of the 92nd Bomb Group(H) known as 

“Fame's Favored Few”; 327th Squadron 

• First mission was on May 27 to Yport, France with target being a coastal gun 

site listed as experimental 

• Fourth mission was on D-DAY June 6, 1944 to France with target being railway 

yards 

• Last mission was on August 25 to Peenemunde, Germany with target being an 

experimental rocket plant. Shot down on this mission. Was POW until his 

release in January 1945 

• Upon return to the United States, served remaining time in the military in the 

hydraulic and electric propeller operations at the New Castle Army Air Base 

• Honorably discharged in October 1945 

 

 

 

 

Military awards & stories with pictures 

 

 

 

 

• 

This is a picture of some of Stanley's Military Awards and his model B-17 

 

 • DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS 

•This is one of the nations highest awards for valor. It is given to those 

who demonstrate heroism or extraordinary achievment while 

participating in aerial flight. The achievment must have been so 

exceptional and outstanding so as to clearly set the individual apart 

from other persons in similar circumstances. 

•It is the nations oldest military aviation award created in 1926 

•Stanley was awarded this medal on September 6, 1944 for 

“extraordinary achievment while serving as Engineer of a B-17 airplane 

on a number of combat bombardment missions over Germany and 

German occupied countries”. One of those missions was on D-DAY in 

support of the invasion of Normandy. 

 

 

 

• AIR MEDAL 

• Awarded to a person serving in the armed forces who has distinguished 

himself by meritorious achievment while participating in aerial flight. 

•Created in May 1942 

•Stanley was awarded this medal on June 20, 1944 for “exceptionally 

meritorious achievment, while participating in sustained bomber combat 

operations over enemy occupied Continental Europe.” 

•He was subsequently awarded three Oak Leaf Clusters to wear with the Air 

Medal. 

• Recognition from France 

•Awarded for helping to “liberate France and in doing so changed the history of 

the 20th Century.” 

 

 

 

 

What were the conditions like on a B-17?

 

 

• As shown by Stan's daughter Kathy, it was very claustraphobic. Ten men flew in 

these cramped quarters. The planes were basically open, not pressurized and flew at 

heights of 25-30,000 feet. Inside temperature was around -50 degrees. Crewmen had 

to wear oxygen masks and very heavy coats, boots, gloves, hats and flak jackets 

making it even tighter. Windows were often covered with ice. 

• Kathy is stooping about where Stan was located when in combat. 

As engineer he had 

to sit with the pilots because that is where all the controls were located. When time 

came to become the gunner he just turned around, got onto the elevator step to reach 

the top turret guns. 

 

 

 

• Here is a picture of the top turret with gun. From this perch the whole sky 

was visable. Stan watched for and shot at enemy fighter jets but, 

unfortunately, he also could see fellow airman in other airplanes being 

shot down, with flak exploding everywhere. What that must have looked 

and sounded like! 

• Imagine doing that at 20 years old for 24 separate combat missions and 

then being shot down yourself! 

 

 

 

 

• This is where the bombs were launched. Note the very narrow plank and 

the small ropes to hold while walking along the plank across the open 

bombing doors flying at 25,000 feet while being shot at by fighter jets. 

• Stan often relays the story that the bombs frequently got stuck and the 

crewmen had to stand on the plank and pry them loose 

 

 

 

 

Some of Stan's Bombing Missions 

 

• D-DAY June 6,1944 - The 92nd flew three missions that day. Stan's squadron was the 

third mission and was one of 33 aircraft sent to bomb rail yards and factories at Thury-

Harcourt France. General Dolittle commended the 92nd Bomb Group as follows: “ 

Today the greatest effective strength in the history of the Eighth Air Force was 

reached; an overall effectiveness of approximately 75% of all crews and airplanes 

assigned. Please extend my congratulations to all members in your command for 

their untiring effort in achieving this impressive strength.” 

• June 20, 1944 - Hamburg Germany; 51 aircraft were sent to bomb an oil refinery and 

storage complex. General Doolittle dispatched the following message regarding the 

Hamburg efforts: “Operations 20 June 1944, against difficult targets in Germany 

considered among most satisfactory ever conducted. You are congratulated for your 

success.” 

• July 25, 1944 - The Eighth AF provided close air support to enable ground forces to 

break out of St. Lo France to complete the liberation of France. Proposed by Lt. 

General Omar N. Bradley, this daring plan, known as Operation Cobra , sent over 

1,500 Eighth AF heavy bombers to bombard the panzer divisions blocking the way 

south through France. Cobra was a decisive turning point in the European Campaign. 

 

 

 

 

Stan's Last Bombing Mission 

 

• In the morning of August 25, 1944 a force of 22 B-17.s left their air base in 

Podington, England. Their mission was to bombard Peenemunde 

Germany, a base on an island in the Baltic Sea. The primary target was 

the bearings and magnetic workshops at an experimental rocket plant. 

• This plant was where the Germans had developed and tested the V1 and 

V2 rockets which were later used to bomb London, England. 

• Here, they came under a terrific anti-aircraft flak attack. Stan's plane took 

two direct hits. The first blew off the propeller on the #4 engine and tore a 

large hole in the right wing. The other one put the #3 engine on fire and 

set another one windmilling. They lost altitude rapidly. “We were told to 

bail out but we decided to stay with the plane a little longer”, said Stan. 

Over the Baltic Sea they jettisoned as much as possible and as Stan was 

trying to dump the ball turret (located on the bottom of the plane) they 

crashed near a small fishing village in Sweden. 

• He and the rest of the crew were interred there until released in January 

1945. 

• Stan still has a copy of his order allowing him to report for duty after his 

release without “conforming with existing uniform regulations.” 

 

 

 

• 8th Army Air Force, 92nd Bombardment Group(H), “Fame's Favored Few” 

• Memorial: 

In Remembrance 

For the love of peace, 

They turned darkness to light. 

For the love of freedom, 

They turned tyranny to justice. 

For the love of their fellow man, 

Many in valour gave their lives. 

Fame's Favored Few 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion 

 

 

• After returning to civilian life, Stan continued his committment to his fellow 

man and his country by becoming actively involved in various civic 

organizations most notably are the American Legion and the Lions Club. 

• He has held many leadership positions in both organizations, is a 58 year 

life member of the American Legion Stahl Post 30 and a life member with 

44 years of perfect attendance of the Wilmington Manor Lions Club. 

• Many of you in the audience today, as well as countless others in the 

State, also know Stan as “The TastyKake Man”. When you are driving 

around the New Castle area and you see a car with the Delaware license 

plate “TKake” you will know that it is Stanley P. Lawruk - a 2010 Inductee 

in the Delaware Aviation Hall of Fame.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

• I am proud to now introduce Stan. 

 

 

 

 

TECH SERGEANT STANLEY P. LAWRUK, SR., knew his B-17 Flying Fortress 

inside and out. An Eighth Army Air Force flight engineer in “The Big One”, the Delaware native's 

non-mission duty was to keep his flying machine battle-ready, including its 50-caliber machine 

guns. However, his primary mission assignment was both as an Engineer and Top Turret 

Gunner. 

 

Lawruk spent many months in Army Air Force classrooms, machine shops and test facilities 

perfecting his skills. He earned the Army Air Force's Technical Training Command diploma. He 

was awarded a certificate of training from the Boeing Flying Fortress Factory School for B-17F's 

and a diploma as propeller mechanic from the Army Air Force Training Command. 

 

Why such an investment in perfection? “Stan is a living example of the greatest generation, 

explains his son-in-law Howard Gunton. “He always does his very best. He was proud of his 

cause, his airplane, and his fellow airmen. He felt they deserved the best he had.” 

 

Tech Sergeant Lawruk didn't win them all. His B-17 was shot down by enemy fire on August 25, 

1944 over Germany on his 24th mission. He was held prisoner until January 1945. Lawruk was 

awarded the DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS “for extraordinary achievement while serving as 

Engineer of a B-!7 airplane on a number of combat bombardment missions over Germany and 

German occupied countries” (including D-DAY). 

 

He was also awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, the Prisoner of War Medal, 

the Good Conduct Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, the American Theater Operations Medal, 

and the European Theater Operations Medal with four Battle Stars. Additionally, he received a 

diploma of recognition from the Republic of France for his services in liberating France. 

 

Stan lives in New Castle. He and his wife Pearl raised three married children. They have six 

grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. 

 

NOMINATED BY SON-IN-LAW HOWARD GUNTON, St Augustine, FL 

 

 

�