Memorial

More information

Lt Gallo graduated from Trinity High School in 1940 and was employed at Bolling Field in Washington, D.C.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Miami Beach, Florida, on 2 February 1943 and was sent overseas in November 1944. He was promoted to the rank of First Lieutenant on 7 March 1945. He had flown 36 missions over enemy territory.

Statement from Lauren 22nd Fighter Squadron:
"We were getting lots of flak and I noticed that Lt Gallo's plane was smoking, so called it in to him. He said his engine was cutting out. Lt Stoutimore told him to head west, and I followed behind and at 7,000 feet. He was being hit by light flak. I lost sight of him for a few seconds because of the haze, and then saw a ship go into a spin with a small fire in the wing or belly. I saw the ship crash and saw no parachute. However, he could have bailed out during the time that I lost sight of him. The plane started its spin from an altitude of 3,000 feet."

According to an eyewitness, who was interviewed by a German researcher, Michael Guedelhoefer, the airplane seemed to be under control and tried to make a belly landing. Unfortunately, he tried to land between two hills. On the top of both hills were German 2 cm flak guns, and they shot him down from both sides. The structure of the plane was in good condition when it crashed and Lt Gallo was sitting in the plane. He was initially buried near a road next to the crash site. His name was marked on a wooden cross.