Ser. # A02225851

December 31, 1930 - April 7, 1953
Body Not Recovered
Memorial Marker at
Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery
Nada, Colorado County, Texas

Gold Star Mother
Antonie Marie Skutca Krenek

Honolulu Find A Grave Memorial     National Korean War Veterans Find A Grave Memorial    St. Mary's Cemetery Find A Grave Memorial
 

HIS JET PILOT SON. . .

He Had Been In Korea Only A Week And Now He's Reported As Missing

"He had been in Korea only a week and now he's missing.

"We had a letter from him, and he said he'd be flying the next day. That's when it happened."

E. F. Krenek of Markham told in a halting voice how his jet-pilot son, Second Lieutenant Raymond S. Krenek, is missing on a training flight through Korean skies.

"The telegram they sent us was short and didn't say much, but a letter from his commander told us a little bit more.

"He was on an instrument training flight when it happened. I think he was flying over the Yellow Sea."

Raymond was home in early March and his dad drove him to San Antonio where he flew his jet plane to San Francisco and then to Korea.

"If they'd sent him over on a boat, he'd still be on it instead of missing."

Raymond was graduated from the old Markham High School and went through Wharton County Junior College before joining the Air Force in June, 1951.

His brother, former Sergeant E. J. Krenek, recently returned from Korea. Over there he was an anti-aircraft gunner.

His father said:

"Maybe if Raymond went down in the Yellow Sea, he was able to get out of the plane and use that little rubber boat they carry.

"But then maybe the plane went right on down."

The Bay City News, Thursday, April 15, 1953
 

2nd. Lt. R. S. Krenek Missing In Action

Raymond S. Krenek, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Krenek, Markham, has been reported missing in action and Mr. and Mrs. Krenek have just received a letter from Lt. Krenek's Commanding officer, parts of which are printed here.

"...On 7 April 1953, Ray took off on his first training flight, a T-33 flight of the local area to familiarize him with the surrounding landmarks and our instrument let down procedures. The T-33 was piloted by First Lieutenant Daniel J. Evans, Jr., one of our instructors, and a pilot with many combat missions to his credit. The aircraft took off at 1339 local time.

"When the aircraft did not return at its scheduled landing time, we became concerned and alerted all communications and rescue facilities. No contact could be established. At approximately 1600 hours we received a report that an aircraft had crashed into the water some fifty miles northwest of this base, K-13. A helicopter and crashboat were on the scene attempting to locate the aircraft and its occupants. We pass[ed] the night of the 7th with no further news as rescue crews combed the area.

"On 9 April 1953, a Korean diver recovered a piece of an aircraft which was brought to us for examination. At the same time, it was reported that a reliable Korean had witnessed, from some distance, an aircraft plunge into the water and disappear. The location and time coincided with previous reports of the crash. Although we are not at this time positive, we feel fairly certain that the piece of aircraft recovered was one of the tip tanks from the T-33.

"The intensive search continued for five days, during which no word was heard from the pilots, no further reports of crashes received, and no further traces have been found of the aircraft or occupants. We can only surmise that due to some trouble encountered in flight, the aircraft has crashed, and to date we cannot locate it or the pilots......"

The rest of the letter was of a personal nature to the parents and the words of sympathy and hope.

 [The article had a picture with the following caption. "Second Lieutenant Raymond S. Krenek, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Krenek of Markham, pictured by his plane. He was in Korea but a few days when on a routine flight, not in action, that he disappeared and his whereabouts are not yet known."

The Daily Tribune, April 24, 1953
 

Lt. Raymond Krenek Killed In Korea

Lt. Raymond S. Krenek, son of Mr. and Mrs. E. F. Krenek of Markham, has been reported killed in Korea.

First reports to the family were that Lt. Krenek was missing from a training flight since April 7, 1953. That report has now been changed by the Department of the Air Force to be death due to an accident April 7.

Lt. Krenek, who had been in Korea but a few days, was a Saber Jet pilot serving with the 51 Fighter Interceptor Wing in Korea.

The Daily Tribune, May 20, 1953
 

Krenek

Funeral services for Antonie Marie Skutca Krenek, 85, of Bay City were scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday at Holy Cross Catholic Church with the Rev. Charles Sonnier officiating. Burial was scheduled for 4 p.m. in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Nada.

A rosary was scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Bay City Funeral Home chapel.

Mrs. Krenek was born April 30, 1902, in Nada to Joseph and Mary Peters Skutca and died Jan. 28, 1988, at her residence.

She was a member of Holy Cross Catholic Church, 50-year member of KJT and a member of Holy Cross Altar Society.

Survivors include two sons and daughters-in-law, Clarence and Doris Krenek of Bay City and Ernest J. and Ann Krenek of Ridgeland, Miss.; two daughters and sons-in-law, Joan and August Svatek of Bay City and Betty and Johnny Dorotik of Bellevue, Wash.; 11 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Pallbearers include Allen Dablegott, Alfonse Krenek, Ray Kacal, Gilbert Saha, Dan Stavena and Sam Mathis.

Mrs. Krenek was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Skutca; her husband, Ernest Felix Krenek; and a son, Raymond F. [S.]  Krenek.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Holy Catholic Church School Foundation.

Services are under the direction of Dick R. Elkins, Bay City Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas, January, 1988

KRENEK

Ernest Felix Krenek, 78, of Markham died April 6, 1981 at his residence. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, KJT, Farm Bureau, director of Danevang Co-op and St. Isadore. Survivors include: wife, Antonie Krenek of Markham; daughters, Betty Jean Dorotik of Bellview, Washington and Joan Svatek of Bay City; sons, Clarence of Bay City and Ernest Jr. of Jackson, Miss.; sister, Josephine Krejce of El Campo; brothers, Ben of Hillje and Lawrence of Nada; 11 grandchildren and 1 great-grandchild. Funeral services will be held at the Holy Cross Catholic Church April 4 at 10 a.m. with Rev. Charles Sonnier officiating. Interment will follow at Holy [St.] Mary Catholic Cemetery in Nada. Rosary will be April 8 at 7:30 p.m. at Taylor Brothers Chapel. Pallbearers include Allen and Norwood Dabelgott, Alfonse  Krenek, Cyrill Babik, Adolph Biskup and Rudolph Stasta. Honorary pallbearers will be grandsons. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holy Cross School Foundation. Arrangements with Taylor Brothers Funeral Home.

The Daily Tribune, Bay City, Matagorda County, Texas, April 7, 1981
 

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