John Jacob Czemerda was born on April 21, 1919, in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Jacob Czemerda and Helen Zawacki Czemerda.
John served in the 571st Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a First Lieutenant and Bombardier on the B-17 #42-97295 during World War II.

On May 27, 1944, his crew took off from Station 153 airfield in Framlingham, England, for a mission in Karlsruhe, Germany. At 13:06H, while returning from their mission, their plane was hit by flak and crashed 300 meters east of Cauchie-d'Ecques in the commune of Ecques, France. The plane hooked an electric pylon while attempting a landing. This incident killed five members of the crew, while the other five were able to survive but were taken as prisoners. 1Lt Czemerda was one of the survivors. He was hospitalized and then taken to Stalag Luft III in Zagan, Poland.

After the war, 1Lt Czemerda lived his entire life in the Canonsburg area in Pennsylvania, where he was a member of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Polish National Catholic Church. Prior to retiring in 1982, he had been a foreman in the Large Builders Department of McGraw-Edison Power Systems in Canonsburg.

Czemerda died on February 6, 1993, in the Leader Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, McMurray, after a lengthy illness. He is now buried in the Oak Spring Cemetery, Canonsburg, Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net