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name
DI COSMO, Salvador James - Date of
birth
1920 -
Age
unknown -
Place of birth
Arkansas -
Hometown
Little Rock, Pulaski County, Arkansas
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
38210049 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
Radio Operator -
Unit
427th Bombardment Squadron,
303rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
19 August 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, off Hoek van Holland, The Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Nick Di Cosmo (father)
Oliva D. (Nosari) Di Cosmo (mother)
Natala Di Cosmo (brother)
Geanie M. Di Cosmo (sister)
Stephen Di Cosmo (brother)
Mary E. (Walls) Di Cosmo (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-5392 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Stric Nine
Destination: Gilze Rijen, The Netherlands
Mission: Bombing of airfield
MACR: 285
More information
T/Sgt Salvador J. Di Cosmo was a waiter.He enlisted in Little Rock, Arkansas on 23 July 1942.
The mission was to bomb the airfield of Gilze-Rijen with 38 B-17's from different bomber groups. Due to mist and the reflection of the sun, a first attempt to localise the target failed. The majority of the airplanes returned to their home base but the 303rd Bomber Group turned and tried a second time, but now this group was behind the main formation without the much needed fighter protection. At that moment the group was attacked by a large group of FW-190's who shoot down several bombers.
This B-17 was hit by flak and caught fire. Four crew members could bail out and were taken prisoner, six were killed.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.303rdbg.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census / Marriage Certificate
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Sophie Uljee, www.wwiimemorial.com, http://www.honorstates.org