Technical Sergeant, 337th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, World War II.
Radio Operator aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97269.
During a mission out of AAF Station 138 in England to bomb targets at Karlsruhe, Germany, his aircraft exploded as they were entering over Normandy, France, and the plane fell into another
B-17 (#42-102515) that was in the formation, and both aircraft crashed near Villy-le-Bas, nine miles SE of Le Tréport, France.
All ten airmen aboard Sgt. Lapetina's airplane were killed. Two survived from the other B-17 and stated that the formation was cruising at 22,000 feet elevation when the explosion occurred and that they did not know if they'd been hit by enemy fire or otherwise.
KIA were:
1LT John W Ziegler, O-753774, NJ, Pilot
2LT Joseph Gold, O-814889, NJ, Co-Pilot
2LT James E McLaughlin, O-699221, MA, Navigator
2LT Aaron I Miller, O-757012, NY, Bombardier
TSGT Mike R Lapetina, 36724223, IL, Radio Operator
TSGT Leon H Sweatt, 18048549, TX, Flight Engineer
SSGT Charles E Cushing, 31316857, NJ, Asst. Radio Operator
SSGT William A Humbird , 17099682, MO, Asst. Armorer
SSGT Max R Thompson, 20759068, KS, Tail Gunner
SSGT Sheldon J Trusty, 36708974, IL, Asst. Engineer
For the crew names on B-17 #42-102515, see the memorial for LT Joseph A Borkowski
~
Chicago Tribune (IL) Abstract- 5/29/1949
T/Sgt. Mike R. Lapetina, U.S. A.A.F., 337th Bomb Sqdn., 96th Bomb Grp. (H) killed in action May 27, 1944, over Dieppe, France, formerly of 2109 W. Erie street, son of Dan and Nettie, brother of Nick, brother-in-law of Mildred, uncle of Daniel Michael. Resting at chapel, Saturday, May 28, after 3 p.m. Service Monday, 9 a.m., from chapel, 721 N. Western avenue, to Holy Rosary church. Interment Mount Carmel. Military honors by Nicholas M. Grimaldi Jr. post, No. 42, Amvets.
Radio Operator aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97269.
During a mission out of AAF Station 138 in England to bomb targets at Karlsruhe, Germany, his aircraft exploded as they were entering over Normandy, France, and the plane fell into another
B-17 (#42-102515) that was in the formation, and both aircraft crashed near Villy-le-Bas, nine miles SE of Le Tréport, France.
All ten airmen aboard Sgt. Lapetina's airplane were killed. Two survived from the other B-17 and stated that the formation was cruising at 22,000 feet elevation when the explosion occurred and that they did not know if they'd been hit by enemy fire or otherwise.
KIA were:
1LT John W Ziegler, O-753774, NJ, Pilot
2LT Joseph Gold, O-814889, NJ, Co-Pilot
2LT James E McLaughlin, O-699221, MA, Navigator
2LT Aaron I Miller, O-757012, NY, Bombardier
TSGT Mike R Lapetina, 36724223, IL, Radio Operator
TSGT Leon H Sweatt, 18048549, TX, Flight Engineer
SSGT Charles E Cushing, 31316857, NJ, Asst. Radio Operator
SSGT William A Humbird , 17099682, MO, Asst. Armorer
SSGT Max R Thompson, 20759068, KS, Tail Gunner
SSGT Sheldon J Trusty, 36708974, IL, Asst. Engineer
For the crew names on B-17 #42-102515, see the memorial for LT Joseph A Borkowski
~
Chicago Tribune (IL) Abstract- 5/29/1949
T/Sgt. Mike R. Lapetina, U.S. A.A.F., 337th Bomb Sqdn., 96th Bomb Grp. (H) killed in action May 27, 1944, over Dieppe, France, formerly of 2109 W. Erie street, son of Dan and Nettie, brother of Nick, brother-in-law of Mildred, uncle of Daniel Michael. Resting at chapel, Saturday, May 28, after 3 p.m. Service Monday, 9 a.m., from chapel, 721 N. Western avenue, to Holy Rosary church. Interment Mount Carmel. Military honors by Nicholas M. Grimaldi Jr. post, No. 42, Amvets.
Technical Sergeant, 337th Bomb Squadron, 96th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, World War II.
Radio Operator aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97269.
During a mission out of AAF Station 138 in England to bomb targets at Karlsruhe, Germany, his aircraft exploded as they were entering over Normandy, France, and the plane fell into another
B-17 (#42-102515) that was in the formation, and both aircraft crashed near Villy-le-Bas, nine miles SE of Le Tréport, France.
All ten airmen aboard Sgt. Lapetina's airplane were killed. Two survived from the other B-17 and stated that the formation was cruising at 22,000 feet elevation when the explosion occurred and that they did not know if they'd been hit by enemy fire or otherwise.
KIA were:
1LT John W Ziegler, O-753774, NJ, Pilot
2LT Joseph Gold, O-814889, NJ, Co-Pilot
2LT James E McLaughlin, O-699221, MA, Navigator
2LT Aaron I Miller, O-757012, NY, Bombardier
TSGT Mike R Lapetina, 36724223, IL, Radio Operator
TSGT Leon H Sweatt, 18048549, TX, Flight Engineer
SSGT Charles E Cushing, 31316857, NJ, Asst. Radio Operator
SSGT William A Humbird , 17099682, MO, Asst. Armorer
SSGT Max R Thompson, 20759068, KS, Tail Gunner
SSGT Sheldon J Trusty, 36708974, IL, Asst. Engineer
For the crew names on B-17 #42-102515, see the memorial for LT Joseph A Borkowski
~
Chicago Tribune (IL) Abstract- 5/29/1949
T/Sgt. Mike R. Lapetina, U.S. A.A.F., 337th Bomb Sqdn., 96th Bomb Grp. (H) killed in action May 27, 1944, over Dieppe, France, formerly of 2109 W. Erie street, son of Dan and Nettie, brother of Nick, brother-in-law of Mildred, uncle of Daniel Michael. Resting at chapel, Saturday, May 28, after 3 p.m. Service Monday, 9 a.m., from chapel, 721 N. Western avenue, to Holy Rosary church. Interment Mount Carmel. Military honors by Nicholas M. Grimaldi Jr. post, No. 42, Amvets.
Radio Operator aboard B-17G Flying Fortress #42-97269.
During a mission out of AAF Station 138 in England to bomb targets at Karlsruhe, Germany, his aircraft exploded as they were entering over Normandy, France, and the plane fell into another
B-17 (#42-102515) that was in the formation, and both aircraft crashed near Villy-le-Bas, nine miles SE of Le Tréport, France.
All ten airmen aboard Sgt. Lapetina's airplane were killed. Two survived from the other B-17 and stated that the formation was cruising at 22,000 feet elevation when the explosion occurred and that they did not know if they'd been hit by enemy fire or otherwise.
KIA were:
1LT John W Ziegler, O-753774, NJ, Pilot
2LT Joseph Gold, O-814889, NJ, Co-Pilot
2LT James E McLaughlin, O-699221, MA, Navigator
2LT Aaron I Miller, O-757012, NY, Bombardier
TSGT Mike R Lapetina, 36724223, IL, Radio Operator
TSGT Leon H Sweatt, 18048549, TX, Flight Engineer
SSGT Charles E Cushing, 31316857, NJ, Asst. Radio Operator
SSGT William A Humbird , 17099682, MO, Asst. Armorer
SSGT Max R Thompson, 20759068, KS, Tail Gunner
SSGT Sheldon J Trusty, 36708974, IL, Asst. Engineer
For the crew names on B-17 #42-102515, see the memorial for LT Joseph A Borkowski
~
Chicago Tribune (IL) Abstract- 5/29/1949
T/Sgt. Mike R. Lapetina, U.S. A.A.F., 337th Bomb Sqdn., 96th Bomb Grp. (H) killed in action May 27, 1944, over Dieppe, France, formerly of 2109 W. Erie street, son of Dan and Nettie, brother of Nick, brother-in-law of Mildred, uncle of Daniel Michael. Resting at chapel, Saturday, May 28, after 3 p.m. Service Monday, 9 a.m., from chapel, 721 N. Western avenue, to Holy Rosary church. Interment Mount Carmel. Military honors by Nicholas M. Grimaldi Jr. post, No. 42, Amvets.
Inscription
ILLINOIS
TECH SGT 337 AAF BOMB SQ
WORLD WAR II
Gravesite Details
Killed in Action Re-interment 5/30/1949
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