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name
RICCIO, Samuel Harry - Date of
birth
27 April 1921 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York -
Hometown
Amsterdam, Montgomery County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32855461 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Left Waist Gunner -
Unit
548th Bombardment Squadron,
385th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
12 May 1944 - Place of
death
Langenhain-Ziegenberg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| N | 10 | 17 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph Riccio (father)
Josephine Riccio (mother)
Lana Riccio (sister)
Mary Riccio (sister)
Louise Riccio (sister)
Virginia Riccio (sister)
Peter R. Riccio (brother)
Robert J. Riccio (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-31787 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Zwickau, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the August Horch Motorwagenwerke Industry
MACR: 4879
More information
S/Sgt Samuel H. Riccio worked in a machine shop.He enlisted in Albany, New York on 3 April 1943.
At 1240 hours in the area west of Coburg, Germany, the airplane was rammed in mid-air by an enemy fighter. On impact both aircraft exploded and went down. No parachutes were sighted and it is the pre-samption of those observing the crash that it is inconceivable that any members of the crew of 42-31787 could have gotten out of the aircraft before it struck the earth. The airplane crashed into the community forest of Langenhain-Ziegenberg, near the road to Adlerhorst, 3 km west of the town.
Nine crew members were killed, one was taken prisoner. S/Sgt Riccio was initially buried at the community cemetery of Langenhain.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, André Koch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - 1930/1940 Census, WWII Draft Cards
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Jerry Snyder, Historic Amsterdam League