Anthony F Malavasic, 61, of Phoenix AZ died January 4, 1986.
He was a World War II Air Force veteran, a prisoner of war for 17 months in Stalag XVII-B.
He was a life member of AXPOW. He is survived by his wife Mildred, two sons and a grandson.
(EX-POW BULLETIN, May 1986, Vol 43 No 5)
Anthony F Malavasic
MILITARY | STAFF SERGEANT | TAIL GUNNER | 392ND BOMB GROUP Shot down 31 December 1943 in B-24 #427605. Prisoner of War (POW). Only survivor of crash POW.

B-24 Liberator 42-7605 “Bull Bat” when it took off from Station 118 Wendling, Norfolk, UK, on December 31st, 1943. Their mission, #21, was to bomb a Luftwaffe airfield southeast of St. Jean D'Angely, France, as part of the ongoing campaign to target Luftwaffe personnel during their training. A brief description of the mission can be found at http://www.b24.net/missions/MM123143.htm. They were flying high above the town of Montlieu la Garde when fifteen German fighters intercepted them. Being the last of the formation, “Bull Bat” was targeted. It exploded in midair. All crewmembers died, with the exception of the tail gunner, SSgt Anthony F. Malavasic, who was taken prisoner.