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name
MANDARANO, Joseph Michael - Date of
birth
1 December 1923 -
Age
20 - Place of
birth
New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York -
Hometown
New Rochelle, Westchester County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32987812 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Tail Gunner -
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
6 October 1944 - Place of
death
1.5 km west of Klein Behnitz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| D | 5 | 54 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Vito Mandarano (father)
Carmela Mandarano (mother)
Frances M. Mandarano (sister)
Angelina Mandarano (sister)
Patrick Mandarano (brother)
Angelo Mandarano (brother)
John Mandarano (brother)
Eleanor Mandarano (sister)
Dolores Mandarano (sister)
Mildred Mandarano (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-97079 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Dozy Doats
Destination: Berlin, Germany
MACR: 9521
More information
S/Sgt Joseph M. Mandarano enlisted in New York City, New York, on 20 July 1943.At 1207 hours, at the I.P., enemy fighters attacked in mass formation from the rear and above, coming out of the clouds. The first attack reduced the Group strength to 2 B-17s (which two is undetermined). The fighters then returned and in another mass attack, using the same tactics, shot down the remaining two. Attacks were very aggressive and sudden.
No exact information of the attack is available because no A/C of the Group concerned returned.
According to surviving crew members, the airplane blew up in midair.
Four crew members were taken prisoner, and five men were killed.
It is believed that S/Sgt Mandarano was injured or killed during the first attack, as he failed to call out the enemy planes as they attacked from the rear.
S/Sgt Mandarano was initially buried at the community cemetery of Klein Behnitz on 7 October 1944.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - WWII Enlistment Record, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, WWII Draft Card, 1940 US Census
Photo source: Jac Engels, www.wwiimemorial.com - Frances M. Mandarano