Tribute to Robert D. Cookson Sr. and B-29er's of the Marianas
  • Home- Uncle Bob
  • Uncle Bob's Letters
    • Uncle Bob's Letters 1943 >
      • Jan. 1943
      • Feb. 1943
      • March 1943
      • April 1943
      • May 1943
      • October 1943
      • June 1943
      • July 1943
      • August 1943
      • September 1943
      • November 1943
    • Uncle Bob's Letters 1944 & 1945 >
      • January 1944
      • February 1944
      • March 1944
      • April 1944
      • May 1944
      • June 1944
      • August 1944
      • September 1944
      • October 1944
      • November 1944
      • December 1944
      • January 1945
      • February 1945
      • Last letter mailed home- __06 March 1945__
      • Last letter found in his belongings after his death-not mailed
  • Uncle Bob youth images
  • Uncle Bob Training/Becoming Radar Operator
  • Uncle Bob KIA
  • KIA - The Flight and Collision
  • KIA - The Aftermath
  • Returning Uncle Bob's Remains to the U.S. 1948
  • Z Square 8 CRASH SITE PHOTOS
  • POWs in Hyogo Ken eye-witness accounts, crash of the Z Square 8
  • Visit to Crash Site/Memorial. April 2015
  • Osaka Kempeitai Execution of Nelson and Augunas
  • Aircrews/Missions
  • 500th Bomb Group
  • Z-6 "Draggin' Lady"
  • Z-6 "Booze Hound"
  • Z-7 "Hell's Belle"
  • Z-8 "Mission to Albuquerque"
  • Z-9 "Nina Ross"
  • Z-10 "Punchin' Judy"
  • 1st Incendiary Raid report, Tokyo, 9 March 1945
  • Incendiary Raid Reports, Kobe, 17 March 1945. Z-8 crew lost.
  • Photo Galleries (5 galleries)
  • Unofficial History of the 73rd Wing Book
  • Algy Augunas of Z-8, "Mission to Albuquerque", Radio Operator, POW/Executed
  • Erwin A. Brousek of Z-8 "Mission to Albuquerque", Bombardier
  • Herschel W. Connor of Z-8 "Mission to Albuequerque", Flight Engineer
    • Connor War Diary
  • Robert E. Copeland of Z-8, "Mission to Albuquerque", Pilot/Co-Pilot, KIA
  • George Lucas of Z-8, Crew Chief
  • Richard A. Field of Z-6, "Draggin' Lady", Pilot
  • Richard Dodds of Z-6, of "Draggin' Lady", Pilot-Co/Pilot
  • Douglas F. Bulloch of Z-6, "Draggin' Lady", Left Gunner/Spotter
  • Charles R. Maples of Z-6, "Draggin' Lady", Radio Operator
  • Romeo "Raymond" Rendina of Z-6, "Draggin Lady", Tail Gunner-secondary crew, Engle.
  • Harry Gerson of Z-6, "Booze Hound", Radar Operator-replaced Bob Cookson
  • Francis J. Merrick of Z-6, "Draggin Lady," Navigator
  • Jack L. Heffner of Z-7,and Z-11, "Hell's Belle" and "Holy Joe", Radar Operator
  • Jack Lebid of Z-7, "Hell's Belle", Radio Operator
  • Edwin Lawson of Z-22, "Leading Lady", CFC "Ring" Gunner
  • James R. Farrell of Z-34, "Frisco Nannie", Aircraft Commander
  • Jack V. Arterburn of Z-34, "Frisco Nannie", Flt.Eng.
  • Harold Arbon of Z-36, "Lil Abner," Aircraft Commander
  • Harold Arbon Saipan photo collection
  • Ray "Hap" Halloran of V-27, "Rover Boy Express", Navigator-survived war
  • Billy J. Burgess of E Triangle 27, "Good Deal", CFC Gunner
  • John L. Wright, Circle X 39, "Indiana," CFC Gunner, KIA
  • Nicolas V. Van Ness of Block "O" 15, "Green Hornet", Bombardier
  • Gerald J. Murphy of Aircraft #42-6379, Tail Gunner
  • John R. McNamara Jr., 499th Bomb Group
  • Junichi Ogata of the 56th Sentai, Capt., Fighter pilot
  • Meeting Capt. Ogata's Daughter April 2015
  • Z-8 Scale Tribute Build
  • Tribute Show Car - "Reverence" - Dodge Challenger
  • Misc Mission Reports/Documents of Interest
  • Color Photos on Saipan
  • Mariana Islands Aircraft Designations
  • WWII Surrender Chaplain Observation
  • The B29 Aircraft
  • WWII War Aircraft Facts
  • Comemorative Air Force's B-29 "FiFi"
  • Links
  • Contact Us
  • Change Log
1st Lt. Erwin A. Brousek of Z-8, "Mission to Albuquerque"


First Lieutenant Erwin A. Brousek, Bombardier of Z Square 8 ("Mission to Albuquerque"), was born in Chicago in 1915 to Anton and Lillian (née Ruzicka) Brousek and was the elder brother of Milan F. Brousek.

Growing up, the brothers were musically influenced by Anton, an Army band veteran of the Spanish-American War who became a well-known recording artist, composer, and band leader. The brothers played many instruments and performed together for enjoyment and employment during their school years in the 1920s and 1930s. Highly sought-after throughout Chicago for civic events, conventions, and festivals, they earned accolades and awards at music contests and recitals while attending local music programs.

After graduating from high school, the brothers continued to perform together as Erwin attended Gregg Business School and worked for the Railway Express Agency while Milan attended Chicago Musical College. After America’s entry into WWII, the brothers joined the Army Air Corps.

Milan saw combat over Europe as a B-17 Radio Operator/Gunner assigned to the 410th Bomb Squadron, 94th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, Bury St. Edmunds, England. His awards included the Air Medal with oak leaf cluster, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four battle stars, and World War II Victory Medal. After the war, he completed his undergraduate work, earned a Master of Music degree from Northwestern University, and directed high school bands throughout Illinois and Iowa. He retired as the first Music Director at Handicap (now Opportunity) Village in Clear Lake, IA.

Erwin, after training in Orlando, FL, Victoria, KS, and Clovis, NM, earned the Combat Observer, Navigator, and Bombardier Badges and saw combat in the Pacific as a B-29 Bombardier assigned to the 881st Bomb Squadron, 500th Bomb Group, 20th Air Force, Isley Field, Saipan. Killed in Action on the 17 March 45 raid on Kobe, Japan, Erwin had stepped in from another crew to serve on the mission. His awards included the Purple Heart, Air Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two battle stars, and World War II Victory Medal.

Erwin is buried at Bohemian National Cemetery in Chicago alongside his parents and brother.

-Narrative by James Erwin Brousek (nephew)


Erwin Brousek
First Lieutenant Erwin Brousek, USAAF, 1944

Brothers Erwin and Milan Brousek
Brothers First Lieutenant Erwin Brousek, 20th Air Force USAAF, and Technical Sergeant Milan F. Brousek, 8th Air Force, USAAF, 1944. Both were serving on combat missions on the day Erwin was Killed in Action

Chicago newspaper reporting Erwin's commission as a Second Lieutenant and receipt of his bombardier silver wings
Picture
Chicago newspaper article reporting Erwin's receipt of his silver wings as an aerial navigator
Boehemian newspaper article image
Chicago Bohemian language newspaper article about the service of both brothers

Western Union Telegraph image
Telegram received by Erwin’s Mother from the War Department informing her that Erwin had been Killed in Action

Priest POW letter to Erwin's mother page 1
Letter received from Franciscan describing the crash of “Mission to Albuquerque” over his POW camp and his effort to bury the bodies of the aircrew
Priest POW letter to Erwin's mother page 2
Priest POW letter to Erwin's mother page 2
Priest POW letter to Erwin's mother page 3
Priest POW letter to Erwin's mother page 3

President Harry S. Truman letter
Presidential Certificate, Combat Death, First Lieutenant Erwin Brousek, signed by President Harry S Truman
Purple Heart Certificate
Purple Heart Certificate, First Lieutenant Erwin Brousek


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