DOB/DOD: August 12, 1912 (Providence, RI) – March 9, 1943; 30 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: Putnam
SERVICE NUMBER: Z-071283
FAMILY: Born to Wladyslaw “Walter” (1890-1985) and Julianna (Kavwowska) Janczyk (1890-1925) [both born in Poland]. Stepmother, Magdalena P. Partyka Janczyk [born in Poland] (1897-1987). Six brothers, Jacob (1915-1994), Joseph J. (1917-2008), Kazimier “Charles” [Army; 1941-1945] (1919-1996), Cypryjan “Cypry” (1923-1996), Tadeusz [Air Force, 1945-1946] (1926-1973), and Wiktor (1930-2013). Two sisters, Alexandria “Alice” Janczyk Kwandrans (1928-2021) and Regina J. (1933-2019).
CIRCUMSTANCES: The S.S. Malantic was carrying a cargo of 5,000 tons of ammunition and 6,000 half-ton bombs from New York City, New York, to Bari, Italy. They were struck by one torpedo from German U-Boat U-409 on the starboard side at the #1 hatch and eventually sank. Three officers, 16 crewmen, five armed guards, and one passenger on board were lost. The survivors were picked up by the British rescue ship Melrose Abbey.
The fate of U-409
Sunk on July 12, 1943, in the Mediterranean Sea north-east of Algiers, in position 37.12N, 04.00E, by depth charges from the British destroyer HMS Inconstant. 11 dead and 37 survivors.