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name
VILLARI, Anthony Charles "Tony" - Date of
birth
15 September 1925 -
Age
19 - Place of
birth
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio -
Hometown
Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
35919619 -
Rank
Sergeant -
Function
Right Waist Gunner -
Unit
714th Bombardment Squadron,
448th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Missing in Action - Date of
death
4 April 1945 - Place of
death
Ludwigslust, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten - Walls of the Missing
Immediate family
-
Members
Jack Villari (father)
Rose (Nicolosi) Villari (mother)
Russell Villari (brother)
Nanci Villari (sister)
John Villari (brother)
Sam Villari (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
44-50838 -
Data
Nickname: Red Bow
Type: B-24M
Destination: Wesendorf, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the airfield
MACR: 13730
More information
Sgt Anthony C. Villari attended John Adams High School.He enlisted in Cleveland, Ohio on 25 October 1943.
The aircraft was attacked by Me 262s and broke in two.
Nine crew members were killed, and their remains were never found, except for 1st Lt Robert L. Mains and Sgt Charles H. Daman, for whom the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency announced on 12 and 15 September 2017 that their remains were accounted for.
One crew member was taken prisoner.
There is a famous photograph of this plane falling after being hit. It was cut in half by Me 262. It can be found here: http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/15076
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Terry Hirsch, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, http://forum.armyairforces.com, www.ancestry.com - 1940 Census, WWII Draft Card
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Fek Neim, Facebook