Piech, Edward C., 1920-

Edward Piech was born May 26, 1920 in Sayerville, New Jersey to Lawrence and Eva Wnek Piech. Edward entered Rutgers University in September 1941, but left to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Force in April 1942. After marrying Jean Steel in November 1944, he went back to Rutgers on the G.I. Bill in 1945. Edward graduated from R.U. with a B.S. in Chemistry in 1949.

Piech formally enlisted in the Army Air Corps on April 11, 1942. As an aviation cadet, he trained with Squadron 82 on Williams Airfield, Arizona, and earned his wings as a bombardier (2nd Lieutenant) in 1943. By June, Piech was in England with the 8th Air Force, 352st group, 509th Squadron. Piech was part of the Flying Fortress over Kassel, during which his plane was struck. In January 1944, Piech was offered a position as the bombardier for Lt. General Ira C. Eaker's crew in North Africa. In July he began his career as a Bombardier Instructor with the 2nd Air Force in McCook Field, Nebraska. Piech was discharged from the U.S.A.A.F. in September 1945, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters.