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name
PELLEGRINO, Mario - Date of
birth
2 August 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
New York City, New York -
Hometown
Brooklyn, Kings County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
12025811 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Ball Turret Gunner -
Unit
567th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 February 1944 - Place of
death
Wenigentaft, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| J | 13 | 19 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Girdamo Pellegrino (father)
Patricia S. (Staiano) Pellegrino (mother)
Michael Pellegrino (brother)
Armondo Pellegrino (brother)
Assunta Pellegrino (sister)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-100338 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Destination: Gotha, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the aircraft industry
MACR: 2943
More information
S/Sgt Mario Pellegrino was a construction and maintenance painter. He joined the Air Corps of the Regular Army in New York City, New York on 3 February 1941.Eyewitness said the aircraft was attacked and set on fire by fighters after leaving the target area, about 10 miles to the west, and then went into a spin.
Four of the crew successfully bailed out and were captured. Six were killed. Two bailed out but did not survive. The remaining members of the crew apparently perished in the fire at the rear of the aircraft.
The pilot reported that Sgt Pellegrino suffered a head wound in the fighter attack, and he was uncertain whether the ball gunner even exited the aircraft. However, according to a German report, Pellegrino landed with his parachute and was found in a “dying condition.”
He was initially buried at the cemetery of Soisdorf, Germany.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Peter Schouteten, www.389thbg.net, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census, New York, New York Birth Index
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Christopher Curi