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name
ZITO, John - Date of
birth
26 January 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Rhode Island -
Hometown
Providence County, Rhode Island
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
11112253 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Top Turret Gunner -
Unit
568th Bombardment Squadron,
390th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
14 January 1945 - Place of
death
Ketzin, south of Nauen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Joseph Zito (father)
Benedetta (Spatola) Zito (mother)
Frank Zito (brother)
Antoinetta Zito (sister)
Angelo Zito (brother)
Alfred Zito (brother)
Rose Zito (sister)
Vincent Zito (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-6480 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Derben
Mission: Bombing of the oil storage
MACR: 11826
More information
S/Sgt John Zito was a machinist apprentice before he volunteered for the Army of the United Stated at Fort Devens, Massachusetts, on 9 February 1943.The aircraft was lost during intense fighter attacks by approximately 100 FW 190s and ME 109s at about 1240 hours. Due to the fact that the entire squadron was lost during these encounters, there are no particulars available on the attack and subsequent loss of this aircraft.
Seven crew members were killed. Six of them were initially buried at the community cemetery of Ketzin: Taylor, Lynch, Bone, Kelly, Firof and one unknown (which must have been the pilot Thumlert). The fate of Zito is unknown.
Two crew members were taken prisoner.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, Arie-Jan van Hees, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.ancestry.com - Rhode Island State Censuses 1865-1935, 1940 US Census
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Jennie Smith, Parham Airfield Museum, Suffolk, England