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name
ULIANA, Gildo James - Date of
birth
7 November 1914 -
Age
30 -
Place of birth
Monson, Hampden County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Monson, Hampden County, Massachusetts -
Ethnicity
White -
Religion
Catholic
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
11018902 -
Rank
Technical Sergeant -
Function
unknown -
Unit
564th Bombardment Squadron,
389th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
7 May 1945 - Place of
death
Engers Bridge
Koblenz, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| E | 7 | 69 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Antonio J. Uliana (father)
Mary (Entrovigne) Uliana (mother)
Nisio Uliana (brother)
Venanzio D. Uliana (brother)
Antonio A. Uliana (brother)
Mary T. Uliana (sister)
John H. Uliana (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
unknown -
Data
unknown
More information
T/Sgt Gildo J. Uliana graduated from Monson High School and attended Massachusetts State College as part of the class of 1936 for one year.He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Springfield, Massachusetts on 3 January 1942.
Trolley missions were flown in early May 1945. The purpose being to provide all crew and ground personnel the opportunity to see the results of their contribution in the strategic air war against Germany. Many precautions were taken on these missions, and the most responsible and experienced pilots were chosen to fly. There were no trolley missions flown in bad weather. Despite such precautions, accidents occurred, such as this.
The crew decided to circle the cathedral in Koblenz. Presumably the airplane unfortunately flew much too low and collided with supply lines, which were stretched over the river Rhine. Due to the low altitude an evasive maneuver of the airplane was not possible any more. The plane crashed into one of the bridge piers.
All nineteen men aboard were killed, and the remains of only six of them were recovered.
T/Sgt Uliana was one of the 15 passengers on this flight with a B-24J with serialnumber 44-10620.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record / Ulian Family Tree / U.S. WWII Draft Cards Young Men, www.fold3.com – MACR, www.findagrave.com – John Dowdy
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Soilsister