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name
TRAPANI, Eugene - Date of
birth
23 September 1920 -
Age
23 - Place of
birth
Kansas City, Jackson, Missouri -
Hometown
Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
39556171 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
733rd Bombardment Squadron,
453rd Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
16 August 1944 - Place of
death
Near Stapelburg, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 6 | 27 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Mario Trapani (father)
Christine Trapani (mother)
Mario Trapani (brother)
Genevieve M. (Borgia) Trapani (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-110138 -
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Flying Bull
Destination: Dessau, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Junkers Flugzeugwerke aviation industry
MACR: 8424
More information
S/Sgt Eugene Trapani was an purchasing agent.He enlisted in Los Angeles, California on 25 January 1943.
The plane was attacked by enemy fighters and exploded in the air and was recovered 1 km north of Stapelburg near the highway from Stapelburg to Schauen.
A crew member witnessed saw S/Sgt Trapani, slumped over in de waist section of the plane.
Five crew members survived and were taken prisoner, four were killed. They were initially buried on 18 August 1944 at the cemetery of Veckenstedt near Halberstadt/Harz.
At the time of his death, he had completed 13 missions.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.ancestry.com - Trapani Family Tree
Photo source: Peter Schouteten, www.ancestry.com - high school yearbook, San Fernando Valley Times 1 May 1942