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<em>Victor "Vic" Stanislaw Zienowicz</em>, was born in Ludlow, VT, to Frank and Etta (Traikowski) Zienowicz, first generation Polish immigrants who came to America in 1905 and 1908, respectively. Vic was baptized 6 Mar 1915 at the Church of the Annunciation in Ludlow, VT.</p>
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After graduation from the Ludlow schools and a year at a preparatory school, Vic entered West Point in 1936. Upon graduation, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Infantry, but his preference was the Air Corps. He was sent to Ft. Benning, GA, on his first assignment and then admitted into basic flight training at Tuscaloosa, AL, followed by more advanced flight instruction at Maxwell Field, AL. There, those who were already officers trained with those who were not. Maxwell Field, and especially its Air Corps Tactical School, was instrumental in forming much of the leadership in the Army Air Forces of WWII. Arriving in the fall of 1940, the Academy graduates whose preference was the Air Corps finished in the spring of 1941.</p>
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Upon completion of his training, Vic and Dorothy Ashley Huff, whose father was COL Sergeant Prentiss Huff, Aug ’17, married in March 1941.</p>
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From Maxwell Field, Vic reported to MacDill Field, Tampa, FL, for short instructional periods to learn to fly the new B-17s. He was then sent to Gander Field, Newfoundland, for four months to set up an airfield that was to provide a landing place for British airplanes carrying troops and for U.S. planes carrying supplies. He then returned to MacDill Field for more training with the B-17s. When WWII was declared following the attack on Pearl Harbor 7 Dec 1941, his flying group was transferred to Ft. Bragg, NC, for submarine patrol duty.</p>
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The submarine patrol duty was followed by a return to MacDill Field for practice flying before departure for Walla Walla, WA, where the new planes were being prepared. From there, the aircrews flew their new planes to Dow Field, ME, before overseas duty.</p>
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The group departing from Maine in September 1942 and became part of the Eighth Air Force, commanded by GEN Ira Clarence Eaker. The Eighth Air Force mission was to fly combat missions over enemy occupied continental Europe. During that time, Victor Zienowicz served as Squadron Commander, 322d Bombardment Group, with Stanley T. Wray, Commander. Vic had rapidly risen in rank to major, as a result of his assignments and responsibilities.</p>
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During his period of overseas service from September through November, Vic served as the pilot of a B-17 bomber and participated in five aerial, combat missions, on 7, 9, 18, 22, and 23 Nov 1942. For the mission on 22 November, Vic was awarded the Air Medal. He was later awarded an oak leaf cluster for his five combat missions over enemy occupied continental Europe. On 23 Dec 1943, MAJ Victor Zienowicz was awarded posthumously the Purple Heart for military merit and for wounds received in action resulting in his death. He was officially declared dead on 23 Nov 1943, one year to the day after he was reported Missing In Action while on an air mission over Vazaire, France.</p>
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As a Second Classman at West Point, CDT Victor S. Zienowicz was awarded the Soldier’s Medal, for heroism displayed in a vain attempt to rescue a classmate from drowning in the Hudson River in May 1939.</p>
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A son, Victor Sargent Zienowicz, was born to Victor and Dorothy in September 1942 at Eglin Field, FL, just two months before his plane went down.</p>
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In 1947, Dorothy married William T. Doherty, a history professor. They have resided in Fulton, MO, with Westminster College; Columbia, MO, with the University of Missouri; Oxford, MS, with the University of Mississippi; Fayetteville, AR, with the University of Arkansas; Manhattan, KS, with Kansas State University; and Morgantown, WV, with West Virginia University.</p>