669th BS Patch

416th Bombardment Group (L)

Sgt. Richard DeStefano

Airplane Mechanic - Gunner,  35628719

Killed In Action - Feb 2, 1945

669th Bombardment Squadron (L)

 WWII-Medal

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  Born: 30-May-1924, Columbus, Franklin County, Ohio

Entered Military Service: Date: 13-Feb-1943 At: Columbus, OH From: Franklin County, Ohio
NARA Enlistment Record: Enlisted Serial # 35628719

Buried: Saint Joseph Cemetery, Lockbourne, Ohio, Plot: Mater Dolorosa, Lot 402, Space 10.

On-line Memorials:
National World War II Registry
Find-A-Grave


Sgt. Richard DeStefano Killed Over Germany

Sgt. Richard DeStefano, 20, 1484 Grandview Av. was killed in action over Germany Feb. 2 while serving as turret gunner on a 9th AAF troop transport plane, the War Department has advised his family.

A graduate of Central High School and former employee of the Shell Oil Station in Bexley, Sgt. DeStefano entered the Air Corps in February 1942 and went overseas last October.

He is survived by his sister, Mrs. Mary Coyle with whom he made his home, two other sisters, Mrs. Leida Frank, 1444 Westwood Av. and Sea. 1c Gloria DeStefano, stationed in Washington, D.C., with the WAVES, and four brothers, Florio, Detroit, recently given a medical dishcarge from the Army; Cpl. Norman, stationed in France; Sea 1c John, at sea, and Pfc. Vincent, stationed in Iran.

A requiem high mass will be sung March 14 at St. John the Baptist Church.

Extracted from Newspapers.com


See also Sgt Richard DeStefano Individual Deceased Personnel File (IDPF)
(Courtesy of Geoff Gentilini, Golden Arrow Research, LLC)
 Disclaimer: IDPF files document efforts to locate, identify, move, notify relatives and provide final resting for Soldier Dead,
often months or years after death, thus some pages may contain potentially disturbing or distressing information.
If you are sensitive, please consider whether to read this or not.
 Click Here for information on WWII IDPFs.



 Description:
Lieutenant D.E. Smith was flying a window plane. On the return trip he heard an explosion in the rear compartment of the plane. He called his gunners, but neither of them answered. He landed the plane safely at A-78. In the gunners compartment, he found Sergeant R. DeStafono dead. His body was badly broken. Only one small hole was visible in the plane, but the bulkhead had been sprung by the force of the unexplainable explosion. The other gunner, Staff Sergeant D.R. Abriola, was seen to bail out after the explosion near Bolbark, in enemy territory, and is listed as MIA.
(416th BG History 1945)

The second day of February found misfortune once more plaguing the 669th. In an attack on the Euskirken Supply Center, which served as a processing and billeting area for enemy troops enroute to the front, the aircraft piloted by Lt. D. E. Smith was hit by enemy anti-aircraft fire. An explosion occured in the gunners compartment of the airplane. Sgt. Richard De Stefano, the top turret gunner, was killed outright. The engineer gunner, S/Sgt. D. F. Abriola, bailed out. When last seen, S/Sgt. Abriola was drifting down to a landing behind enemy lines. (It should be added that the aircraft was an A20K.) Lt. Smith was obliged to crash land the airplane at AAF Sta. A-78. Fortunately, he escaped injury.
("669th Bombardment Squadron (L) History")

See also No_Report and Mission # 197



Photos and Documents
1930 US Census
1940 US Census
Friday, March 9, 1945, Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, Ohio), Page 12
Headstone
Rosters Of WW II Dead
WW II Army and Army Air Force Casualty List
National World War II Memorial Registry
 
 


Source information can be viewed at WWII Military Service Fatalities Sources