Warbird Information Exchange

The path one takes has many curves and turns, up and downs, the place to be is in the USA. A Salute to Vladimir Ivanovich Palaniuk. RIP.

18 FEB 1919 to 10 NOV 2006.

Born in Pennsylvania, of Ukrainian descent and son of a coal miner, Palaniuk worked in the coal mines until the 1930's when he started a career as a professional boxer. Using the professional name Jack Brazzo, Vladimir Palaniuk won 15 consecutive matches -- 12 by knockout -- until losing his 16th by decision.

World War 2 came knocking about that time; Vladimir joined the Army Air Corp and began training as a B-24 pilot. During training, an engine failed on his bird, and he suffered severe facial injuries and burns either during the bail-out process or when the bomber crashed . He required extensive plastic surgery -- resulting in a distinctive gaunt look -- and was discharged from the US military in 1944. Wounded in combat, he received the purple heart, good conduct medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.

Not one to mope, Vladimir graduated from Stanford University in 1947 with a B.A. in drama and pretty much instantly wound up on Broadway.

Three years after his Broadway debut, Vladimir Palaniuk was discovered by Hollywood.

Not content with a commanding screen presence, Palaniuk painted and sold landscape art, wrote and published poetry, spoke Ukrainian, Russian, Italian, Spanish, French and English.

Most folks knew him as Jack Palance.

Extra credit: The story goes that Palance was badly burned during WWII when a bomber he was piloting crashed; the resulting plastic surgery gave his face its taut, leathery look. Joined the Army Air Force (August 1942) and began training as a bomber pilot in San Antonio, Texas. A year later, during a take-off near Tucson, Arizona, the engine of his B-24 bomber failed and crashed. After long time recovery, ended service April 2, 1944.