Memorial

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T/Sgt Joseph J. Tomasello enlisted in Boston, Massachusetts on 21 March 1941.

He was president of his class at Brockton High school in 1931, was voted the best looking and best dressed member of his class, as well as being the most popular. He won a great victory when he was elected president of the sophomore class in a sticker campaign, the first time in the history of the High School anyone was elected on stickers. While in High school he devoted all his spare time to working, giving a great amount of financial help to his family. He was one of nine children. He worked as an usher in a local theatre and as a salesman in a Main street clothing store, and served as a caddy on Thorny Lea golf course. He was graduated from the George S. Paine school with honors in 1929, and in his freshman year at the High school was one of the successful candidates for the basketball team. Before joining the army he was a clothing salesman in Boston. He was a member of the YMCA and won the tennis tournament there once. He was a graduate from BHS with the class of 1934. Less than a month before his death, Sgt Tomasello was home on furlough from Arizona, and his family supposed he left the U.S. for England immediately upon his return to duty. He was in the service two and a half years, and was appointed an aviation cadet at Camp Edwards in July of 1942, beginning his training at Kelley Field, Tex.

The aircraft was downed by enemy fighters (3FW-190's) off Kiel, Germany. With the aircraft on fire and out of control, the crew bailed out over the coastal area north-west of Kiel but a strong westerly wind blew them over the Baltic Sea. Three of the crew survived the crash - Lt Robert M. Webster (pilot), 2nd Lt Thomas G. Decaro (Navigator) and T/Sgt Zephan A. Barrows - and became POW's. Eventually T/Sgt Zephan A. Barrows died as POW, while the others landed in the Baltic Sea and were presumed to have drowned.

In Brockton, Massachusetts a park is dedicated in his honor.

T/Sgt Tomasello was born as Joseph J. Tomaselli. His parents were immigrants from Italy. It is not known why he changed his name.