TSgt Anthony Zulkus
U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF)
3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 90th Bombardment Squadron (90th BS)

Background
Anthony Zulkus was born June 5, 1918 to parents Mr. Anthony Zulkus Sr. and Mrs. Monica (née Klenovitch) Zulkus. The Zulkus family lived at 39 Ceadar Road, Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. He completed four years of high school and employed at Farmer and Pearce in 1940.

Wartime History
On October 16, 1940 Zulkus registered for the draft. On October 29, 1940 enlisted in the U.S. Army with serial number 11009240 for the Hawaiian department. Assigned to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF), 5th Air Force (5th AF), 3rd Bombardment Group (3rd BG), 90th Bombardment Squadron (90th BS) as a mechanic and gunner. By early 1942, promoted to the rank of Corporal and sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA) as a mechanic and gunner. Zulkus flew as a gunner on at least two combat missions.

On June 16, 1942 he flew as an engineer aboard a B-25 Mitchell on a low level strike bound for Salamaua but aborted the mission due to mechanical issues.

On July 4, 1942 he flew as an engineer aboard a B-25 Mitchell on a low level strike over Lae.

After July 1942, plane mechanics were forbidden from flying combat missions. Instead, he was assigned to the ground crew of B-25 Mitchell assigned to pilot Lt. Don McNutt. By May 1944, he was promoted to the rank of Technical Sergeant.

Mission History
On May 14, 1944 at 5:05pm took off as engineer aboard A-20G "Barry's Baby I.N.S." 42-86768 on a flight from Momote Airfield on Los Negros Island piloted by 1st Lt. Harold R. Prince on an administrative flight bound for Nadzab Airfield. The crew included gunner TSgt Ashford H. Cardwell, engineer TSgt Anthony Zulkus and passenger 2nd Lt. Ambrose J. Finnegan, Jr. aboard as a courier. The weather was reported as good on the flight route. Forty minutes into the flight, this A-20 attempted to ditch in the sea but both engines failed roughly 30' altitude and nosed over impacting hard. When this aircraft failed to arrive it was officially listed as Missing In Action (MIA). After the crash, Prince, Cardwell and Finnegan were never seen again.

Rescue
Zulkus was rescued by a barge and taken to Saidor and hospitalized at the 23rd Field Hospital and later returned to duty.

Memorials
Zulkus passed away in August 1963. He has an unknown burial likely in his hometown in the United States.

Relatives
Anthony Zulkus Sr. (father, died 1963 at age 68)
George J. Enman (nephew)

References
Pacific Wrecks - A-20G Havoc 42-86768
NARA WWII Draft Registration Cards - Anthony Zulkus, October 16, 1940
NARA World War II Army Enlistment Records - Anthony Zulkus date of enlistment listed as October 29, 1946 [sic 1941]
Harvest of the Grim Reapers (2022) page 420 (Zulkus photo)
Thanks to George J. Enman and Edward Rogers for additional research and analysis

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