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name
POMPONIO, Charles R "Dickey" - Date of
birth
22 August 1917 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Middlesex County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Belmont, Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-810841 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
550th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
23 March 1944 - Place of
death
Schijndelsedijk, Boxtel
Near Schijndel, northeast of Boxtel, the Netherlands
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| I | 1 | 15 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Charles P. Pomponio (father)
Maria Pomponio (mother)
Lucy Pomponio (sister)
Joseph C. Pomponio (brother)
Eugene Pomponio (brother)
Louise Pomponio (sister)
Betty Pomponio (sister)
Alfred Pomponio (brother)
Rose Pomponio (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-39908 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Brunswick, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the industrial area
MACR: 3321
More information
2nd Lt Charles R. Pomponio graduated from Belmont High School in 1941, where he starred in the basketball team. He continued in that sport with the Pals' basketball outfit, which he captained.He was associated with his father, who operated the Community Drug Store at 360 Trapelo road.
He entered the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy but left before he graduated to enlist in Boston, Massachusetts in February 1943. He was sent overseas in January 1944.
The plane was jumped by four enemy fighters, falling off into a dive, and it was apparently out of control. It burst into flames and disintegrated.
It is also believed that the plane was downed by flak.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Tessa Peeters/Ramón Kolb, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Army Enlistment File, www.ancestry.com - Mellin Family Tree / 1920/1930 Census, www.fold3.com - MACR, http://www.usaafdata.com, www.bhic.nl http://www.8thafhs.org, www.defensie.nl
Photo Source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Tessa Peeters/Ramón Kolb