Luksic in Popek (USAAF)

[Klemen Kocjancic]

I'm looking for info (family origin) on these 2 US air aces during WWII:
* Carl J. Luksic - 8,5 air victories and
* Edward S. Popek - 7 air victories.

Regards,
Klemen

[Paul]

Klemen,

Did you do a Google check ? Information to be found there !

Paul

[Frank Olynyk]

Carl Luksic was born in 1921 in Schofield Barracks, Oahu, Hawaii (Territory). His father, Ignatious J, was born in Germany, as were his parents; he was 32 at the time of the 1930 census. His mother, Freida, was born in Hawaii, and her parents were born in Germany; she was 28 at the time of the 1930 census. Ignatius emigrated to the United States in 1903, and served in the US military in World War One. Carl Luksic is still alive.

Edward Popek was born in New Jersey in 1919. His father John was born in Austria/Poland, came to the US in 1896, and was 55 years old at the time of the 1930 census; his parents were also born in Austria/Poland. His mother Sophie was 45 years old at the time of the 1930 census, and came to the US in 1903; she and her parents were also born in Austria/Poland. Edward Popek died in 2001 in Washington (state).

Frank.

[Franek Grabowski]

Frank
Do you have the names of the villages, Popek's parents were coming from? Where there more such American-Polish aces like Popek and Gabby?
Cheers

[Frank Olynyk]

Franek,
Sorry, the census records do not have much detail. For a given person, it will have his/her age in years at the time of the census, their state (or country if non-US) of birth, and state/country for their parents. If they are living with their parents, you can then check *their* parents state/country of birth. Nothing more detailed. Middle names seem never to be recorded, and frequently middle initials are not given. No birthdays. Etc. And of course, you need to feel confident that the census record is for the individual of interest.

The other problem for Europeans checking on American aircrew, is that American military records do not ask for family nationality. You have to know the individual, or make assumptions about their (European) nationality from their name. Birthdate appears in these records, but birthplace does not seem to be recorded regularly. "Hometown" is the usual item recorded, with, of course, no definition of "hometown". I have been told that it can be the city the individual was living in at the time of enlistment; or his parent's residence; or even his girlfriend's!

Frank.