While serving as bombardier on a mission to Germany, 13 April,1944. Before the plane reached the target it was viciously attacked by enemy fighters, and Lt. Dello Buono was seriously injured by a 20mm. shell which exploded on contact with his flak suit. Despite the seriousness of his wounds, Lt. Dello Buono manned his nose guns until the target was reached, and then dropped his bombs squarely in the group's pattern. He then returned to his guns and, ignoring his pain and the danger of frostbite from the cold air blasting through the nose, refused to leave his post until fighter attacks had ceased and the enemy coast had been passed on the way home.