Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MELI, Joseph A Jr - Date of
birth
16 February 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Manhattan, New York County, New York -
Hometown
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-728901 -
Rank
First Lieutenant -
Function
Pilot -
Unit
511th Bombardment Squadron,
351st Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Finding of Death - Date of
death
15 May 1943 - Place of
death
North Sea, near Borkum Isle, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph A. Meli (father)
Louise (Guma) Meli (mother)
Elenor Meli (sister)
Evelyn L. Meli (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-3173 -
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Spare Ball
Destination: Emden, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the railroad yards
MACR:15581
More information
Joseph Meli graduated from New Utrecht High School and attended Brooklyn College for two years.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in New York City, New York on 14 January 1942. He received his wings at Roswell, New Mexico and was sent overseas in April 1942.
The airplane exploded in mid-air after it was hit by a bomb, dropped by another B-17 in the group. The entire crew of ten men was killed.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - DiBella Family Tree / 1940 Census, www.findagrave.com - Edward DiBella, www.newspapers.com - The Brooklyn Daily Eagle
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.findagrave.com - Edward DiBella