John J. Strusowski, Newark, was a World War II pilot with the 15th U.S. Army Air Corps 376th heavy bomb group, the "Liberandos," operating out of Italy He flew 50 B-24 missions over strategic Axis targets, including four over the heavily defended Nazi oilworks at Ploesti, Romania. On one raid, he worked his way back from the cockpit to midship where he managed, with a screwdriver, to dislodge a 1,000-pound bomb hung up in damaged bomb bay doors.
Major Strusowksi was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and four Air Medals.
In spring 1946, Strusowski was one of four pilots chosen to fly Herbert C. Hoover on a survey of world famine relief needs. The three month, 50,000 mile mission, ordered by President Harry S Truman, covered 40 nations. The pilots flew two C-54s. Mr. Hoover saluted the crews for operating "without mishap or delay" He said, "Strict maintenance of schedule at all times was an important contribution to the success of our mission, where time was a vital factor."
Selection of Strusowski reflected the esteem with which the Air Corps regarded John's ability, said lifelong friend and nominator Raymond S. Babiarz of Newark.
Strusowski's wife Helena died in 1996. They raised three children: daughter Lisa Ann Klosiewicz of Newark, and sons Randolph of Wilmington and Corliss E. Talley of Kitty Hawk, N.C.
