Cornelius J Romano

Military

Cornelius enlisted in the Army during WWII and was originally sent to Texas for training as a tanker. However, due to his exceptional eyesight, he was afforded the opportunity to transfer to the Army Air Branch as a bomber crew member. Cornelius served in the United States Army Air Corp. with the 100th Bomber Group and completed over 20 missions, including bombing Stuttgart, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Berlin, Leipzig, as well as participating in Russian shuttle-bombing runs. Cornelius survived an emergency bailout when his B-17 "Bachelor's Heaven" caught fire during a training flight over England. After the war, Cornelius became a fireman for 25 years, retiring in 1983. He passed away Tuesday, August 31, 2010 at the Van Dyke Hospice Center, Toms River and is buried in Ocean County Memorial Park, New Jersey, United States.



Cornelius's first-borne grandson, SGT Paul Romano, enlisted in the United States Army in 2014 to carry on his family's legacy of service, which he continues to do to this day.

Connections

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Units served with

Three airmen of the 100th Bomb Group, Lieutenant Kenneth Menzie, Lieutenant Donald Strout and Lieutenant Norman Scott, plan the route they will take during the next mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-30380). Image stamped on reverse: 'Reviewed and passed U.S. Army 23 Aug 1943 Press Censor E.T.O. U.S.A.' [stamp]'. Passed for publication 23 August 1943 INTLD 16 General Section Press Censorship Bureau '[stamp], 'Associated Press' [stamp] and '280035.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reve

100th Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

Aircraft

Police examine the wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress of the 100th Bomb Group that has crashed in Felixstowe. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Police / 100BG Felixstowe.' Second handwritten caption: ' 100BG. Hansard Fort - Felixstowe.'

42-97561

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Bachelor's Heaven
  • Unit: 95th Bomb Group 335th Bomb Squadron 100th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 349th Bomb Squadron 413th Bomb Squadron

Places

Revisions

Date
Contributorjmoore43
Changes
Sources

Added an Association to “Thorpe Abbotts”, the home base of the 100th BG.

Date
ContributorPaul Romano
Changes
Sources

My name is Paul Romano, and I am the first-borne grandson of Cornelius Romano. I am in direct possession of my grandfather's medals, records, photographs, and war memorabilia and can corroborate all information listed in this entry. Please contact me if any confirmation is required.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Combat Sup / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia