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Personal info

Full name
DASSO, Eugene E
Date of birth
23 March 1921
Age
23
Place of birth
Greenwood, McHenry County, Illinois
Hometown
Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois

Military service

Service number
O-778421
Rank
Second Lieutenant
Function
Pilot
Unit
337th Bombardment Squadron,
96th Bombardment Group, Heavy
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
28 January 1945
Place of death
Lith-Oss, the Netherlands

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
Plot Row Grave
O 9 2

Immediate family

Members
Henry J. Dasso (father)
Frances M. (Schweickert) Dasso (mother)
Vincent J. Dasso (brother)
Robert F. Dasso (brother)
Carl H. Dasso (brother)
Lucille M. Dasso (sister)
Raymond W. Dasso (brother)
Leo A. Dasso (brother)
Jerome J. Dasso (brother)

Plane data

Serial number
44-6589
Data
Type: B-17G
Destination: Hohenbudburg, Germany
Mission: Bombing of the marshalling yard
MACR: 16248

More information

2nd Lt Eugene E. Dasso graduated from Rock Island High School in Rock Island, Illinois in 1939. He attended St. Ambrose College and was taken a pre-medical course at the University of Illinois.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve in Chicago, illinois on 4 September 1942.

Just after 12:00 the airplane was hit by flak and started to spin out of control. The pilot, Eugene E. Dasso, managed to level the plane and two parachutes were seen leaving the plane. After a second parachute was seen the plane started again to spin out of control and crashed.

Since there were only nine crew members on board and eight were found dead in the wreckage, the fact that someone saw a second parachute must be wrong. Only one crew member was found alive.

His brother, 2nd Lt Carl H. Dasso, is buried next to him.

Besides his brother Carl, three other siblings served: Robert was a bombardier, stationed in France, Raymond joined the Navy, Leo served with the Army Air Corps and Lucille was also stationed in France.

Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Denise Dasso Ferguson (niece), www.wwiimemorial.com, www.fold3.com, www.uiaa.org, MACR, www.newspapers.com - The Dispatch 13 February 1945

Photo source: www.uiaa.org, www.ancestry.com - Rock Island High School Yearbook 1939, www.newspapers.com - The Dispatch 13 February 1945, Arie-Jan van Hees - Pilot Class Book 44-D Chico AAF California