Bernard E. Radomski was born on May 18, 1921, in Buffalo, New York. He was the son of Bernard Roman and Victoria Radomski. He was the husband of Rose Radomski. He was employed as an Inspector before enlisting in the service on February 26, 1943. He served in the 365th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Co-Pilot of B-17G #42-97350 nicknamed 'Strictly from Hunger' during World War II.

On the morning of July 21, 1944, B-24 Liberator 42-97350 departed RAF Chelveston on a mission to bomb the Kugelfischer ball-bearing plant at Schweinfurt, Germany. While flying over southern Germany near the Swiss border, the aircraft was struck by heavy anti-aircraft fire and sustained three direct flak hits. Though reportedly still under control, the bomber left the formation, and the order to bail out was given. At approximately 13:10 hours, the crew successfully parachuted from the disabled aircraft. German records later confirmed that the Liberator crashed near Epfenhofen, approximately 2 kilometers northeast of Fützen and about 15½ kilometers south of Donaueschingen, where it was described as 94 percent destroyed. Several crew members were captured the same day in the Donaueschingen district, with another taken prisoner the following morning. Five others, who had also parachuted safely, were likewise captured. Instead of being treated as prisoners of war in accordance with international law, these five unarmed American airmen were murdered by local Nazi officials and collaborators near Urach and Schollach.

2Lt Radomski and the pilot were captured and taken into custody, where they were placed under guard in a building in Schollach that functioned as both the town hall (Rathaus) and a schoolhouse. Rather than being treated as prisoners of war, they were escorted separately, approximately 45 minutes apart, into nearby woods known locally as Winterwald, where they were executed by German officials and local collaborators. Later that evening, orders were given to bury him and his fellow airmen in unmarked graves in the forest at Winterberg-Urishof in an attempt to conceal the crime. In February 1945, the Bürgermeister (Mayor) and the Pastor of Schollach recovered their remains and reverently reinterred them in the cemetery at Schollach. Initially laid to rest without markers, their bodies were later formally recovered and reinterred with proper recognition.

After the war, those responsible for the killings were prosecuted at the Dachau War Crimes Trials, where the principal perpetrators were sentenced to death, and an accomplice received a prison term. 2Lt Radomski is now buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cheektowaga, Erie County, New York, USA.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, aircrewremembered.com, americanarchive.iwm.org.uk