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name
DAMIANI, Joseph Lawrence - Date of
birth
28 January 1917 -
Age
27 - Place of
birth
Rochester, Monroe County, New York -
Hometown
Rochester, Monroe County, New York
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
32142143 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Nose Gunner -
Unit
527th Bombardment Squadron,
379th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
10 January 1945 - Place of
death
5 km northeast of Altenkirchen, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 28 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Anthony Damiani (father)
Mary (Militano) Damiani (mother)
Terry Damiani (sister)
Agnes Damiani (sister)
Esther Damiani (sister)
Florence Damiani (sister)
John Damiani (brother)
Louis Damiani (brother)
Margaret M. Damiani (wife)
Joseph Damiani (son)
Plane data
- Serial
number
43-38955 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Bonn, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the Hangelar airfield
MACR: 11737
More information
Joseph Damiani enlisted in the Army on 13 July 1942 in Rochester, New York. He had been overseas since August 1944. He had served on Atlantic patrol duty off Newfoundland for nine months before he was sent to the European theater. He was noted as being employed as a salesperson.The airplane 43-38237 was hit by flak and went out of control. It came up and rammed airplane 43-38955 and with his #1 and #2 propellers cutted the plane in half at the bomb bay.
Seven crew members were taken prisoner. John Byers also parachuted out and landed safely on the ground but was killed by German civilians. John Damiani was killed by the collision.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com - MACR, www.newspapers.com - Democrat and Chronicle, www.8thafhs.com, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: Peter Schouteten