Theodore E. Kubala was born on November 5, 1919, in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio. He was the son of Stanley Kubala and Katherine Golojuch Kubala. He was married to Dorothy J. Dynda DiDonato. A graduate of West High School, he enlisted in the Air Force in April 1942 and was called to active duty on August 31. He earned his wings at Turner Field, Albany, Georgia, on May 28, 1943, and was sent overseas that February. He served in the 587th Bomber Squadron, 394th Bomber Group, Medium, as a First Lieutenant and Pilot of B-26 Marauder #42-96086 nicknamed “Purgatory,” based at Station No. 161, Boreham Airfield, Essex, England, during World War II.

On April 21, 1944, Martin B-26B Marauder 42-96086, nicknamed ''Purgatory'' took off from Station 161 Boreham Airfield in Essex, England, on a mission to the Bois d’Esquerdes V-1 site in France. At around 11:37 A.M., the aircraft was hit by flak near the cockpit over Bayenghem-lès-Seninghem, about 10 km south of St. Omer in the Pas-de-Calais region. The plane crashed in fields near the village, and although an attempt was made to abandon the aircraft, only part of the evacuation was successful. Three crew members were killed in the crash, while the other three survived, were captured, and held as POWs, later liberated and returned to the United States.

1Lt Kubala was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.

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