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Personal info

Full name
MALCHIODI, Peter Bernardo
Date of birth
7 July 1912
Age
31
Place of birth
Clinton, Middlesex County, Connecticut
Hometown
Clinton, Middlesex County, Connecticut

Military service

Service number
31118574
Rank
Technical Sergeant
Function
Engineer
Unit
416th Bombardment Squadron,
99th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
1 October 1943
Place of death
Ragaz, Switzerland

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Plot Row Grave
B 44 33

Immediate family

Members
Peter B. Malchiodi (father)
Louise Malchiodi (mother)
William Malchiodi (brother)
Elvira L. Malchiodi (sister)
Rose M. Malchiodi (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
42-30126
Data
Type: B-17F
Nickname: Sugarfoot
Destination: Augsburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of an aircraft factory.
MACR: 796

More information

T/Sgt Peter B. Malchiodi enlisted in Hartford, Connecticut on 29 April 1942.

S/Sgt J. J. Cunningham:
When I first noticed aircraft 42-30126 we were being engaged by fighters, it was flying about 500 yards out and about 300 yards down from the aircraft in which I was flying as tail gunner. The fighters made several attacks at our formation, but we managed to keep them at a distance, aircraft 30126 was tail end Charlie and it is possible they were hit by enemy action, I’m not too sure of this because I was too busy at my own station to observe what was taking place around me. The aircraft was in level flight and appeared to be alright, when all of a sudden, I saw three parachutes open. Aircraft 126 then went into a steep climb, looked to me to be about an 80 degree climb, it climbed for a few seconds and I saw two more parachutes blossom, totaling five. The plane then rolled over and went into a dive, the controls must have been shot away because I could see no fire or visual damage. Just before the plane crashed into the mountain I saw a burst of flame come from the wing tips and an explosion took place in the left wing tip.

He was first buried at the Temporary American Military Cemetery in Münsingen, Switzerland.

Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com – Rose M. Gasparini, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men / Dickman Family Tree, www.fold3.com, www.findagrave.com, http://aircrewremembered.com/USAAFCombatOperations/Oct.43.html
Photo source: www.findagrave.com – Andy, www.wwiimemorial.com – Rose M. Gasparini