Thomas Kinaszczuk

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Thomas Kinaszczuk, Lieutenant, Junior Grade, U.S. Navy (Reserve), for extraordinary heroism in operations against the enemy while serving as Commander of a Navy Patrol Plane in Patrol-Bombing Squadron ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE (VPB-123), in offensive action against an enemy submarine off Cape Race, Newfoundland, on 27 April 1943. Lieutenant, Junior Grade, Thomas Kinaszczuk was on a convoy coverage flight when he sighted a surfaced enemy submarine approaching the convoy on an intercepting course at high speed. Immediately increasing speed, he began his approach for an immediate attack. When the range had closed to about one and one half miles, the submarine commenced a very accurate and heavy anti-aircraft fire which it maintained throughout the attack. With complete disregard for the accuracy of the enemy’s fire and the damage which several hits caused to the plane’s starboard wing and aileron, the pilot pressed home his attack. Finally, from an altitude of only twenty-five feet, he released his depth bombs. Of the four depth bombs released, three were observed to have exploded beneath the submarine. Shortly after the attack, the submarine broke surface at an extreme angle and soon thereafter sank, stern first, in a nearly perpendicular attitude. His conduct throughout was in keeping with the highest traditions of the Navy of the United States.

Bureau of Naval Personnel Information Bulletin No. 338 (May 1945)