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Personal info

Full name
TOSI, Julian
Date of birth
2 November 1924
Age
19
Place of birth
Siskiyou County, California
Hometown
Siskiyou County, California

Military service

Service number
39414390
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Ball Turret Gunner
Unit
856th Bombardment Squadron,
492nd Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Missing in Action
Date of death
20 June 1944
Place of death
Baltic Sea

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Walls of the Missing

Immediate family

Members
Fioravanti J. Tosi (father)
Elena A. (Leporini) Tosi (mother)
Louis O. Tosi (brother)
Donte A. Tosi (brother)
Sandra J. Tosi (sister)

Plane data

Serial number
44-40143
Data
Type: B-24J
Nickname: Mary Ellen
Destination: Politz Oil Refinery, Germany
Mission: Bombing
MACR: 7078

More information

Sgt Julian Tosi attended four years of school at Weed High School as part of the Siskiyou Joint Union High School District as a part of the 1942 Class.

The airplane was leading the high right element in the low left squadron. While approaching the target over the Baltic Sea, the Group was attacked by rocket firing ME-410´s and JU-88s. None of the 10 man crew survived.
Terry Diggs, the co-pilot on Faucher's crew, recalled...
"The first indication that we were under attack was a huge ball of fire where the airplane of Pilot Curtis had been. He apparently took a direct hit in the gas tanks. I don't believe anyone could have possibly survived."

Both pictures were taken in high school. the first in 1939, the second in 1942.

Source of information: Michel Beckers, Astrid van Erp, Terry Hirsch, MACR , 492ndbombgroup.com, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com 1940 census / Family Trees

Photo source: Peter Schouteten, Ancestry.com - Siskiyou Union High School District 1939 and 1942 yearbook