Oswald J Masoni

Military
Lieutenant Masoni of the 379th Bomb Group with Barbara Deans after crash landing his B-17 Flying Fortress in Deans' garden, 4 July 1944. Passed as censored 5 Jul 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '379.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Independence Day Incident[obscured] American Bomber Lands In Garden In Southern England. With two engines out of commission and several of the crew wounded by flak, an American four-engined bomber returning from an early morning raid on targets in Normandy made a belly land media-413476.jpg FRE 4792 Lieutenant Masoni of the 379th Bomb Group with Barbara Deane after crash landing his B-17 Flying Fortress in Deans' garden, 4 July 1944. Passed as censored 5 Jul 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '379.' Printed caption on reverse: 'Independence Day Incident[obscured] American Bomber Lands In Garden In Southern England. With two engines out of commission and several of the crew wounded by flak, an American four-engined bomber returning from an early morning raid on targets in Normandy made a belly landing in a garden in Southern England on Independence Day[obscured]. Photo Shows:- After the emergency landing Barbara Deane meets one of the airmen in front of the bomber. He is the navgator, Lt. Masoni, of New York City. Lal July 5 1944 PN' .' Censor no: 335467. On reverse: Planet News and SHAEF Field Press Censor [Stamps]. Roger Freeman Collection

Associated Masoni based on caption

Object Number - FRE 4792 - Lieutenant Masoni of the 379th Bomb Group with Barbara Deane after crash landing his B-17 Flying Fortress in Deans' garden, 4 July 1944. Passed as...

Assigned to 524BS, 358BG, 8AF USAAF. On 4-Jul-44 returning from France in "Twentieth Century" B17 42-32000 which had lost 2 engines due to flak damage. Over England, a third engine lost power. A/c made a wheels up landing in a field behind the house of Miss Cheney, 18 Downview Road, Felpham, Sussex. The crew had tea with Miss Cheney. 10 RTD with 2 injured. Clifford M. Blue crew.



Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME.



Masoni left the US Army Air Forces with the rank of Captain to pursue a legal career as an Attorney/ Lawyer.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron 527th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 16077202 / O-671856
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13062813 / O-8077294
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

A B-17 Flying Fortress (WA-P, serial number 42-32000) of the 524th Bomb Squadron, 379th Bomb Group after forced landing in Felpham, Sussex, 4 July 1944. Handwritten caption on reverse: '4th July 1944. A/C shot up over France. F/L - crew safe. Rear of Downview Road. Houses (West Side) Felpham, Bognor Regis, Sussex. Resident who provided photo still corresponds with pilot - now solicitor. From P. Amos, 6 Patham Close, Littlehampton, Sussex.'
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Mojo Jr/ Twentieth Century
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Birmingham Jewell
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Bronx, NY 20 March 1923 Son of Joseph and Ida Masoni.

Other

First Tour of Duty

11 April 1943 - 2 February 1944

Enlisted

11 April 1943

Other

Second Tour of Duty

5 February 1944 - 30 October 1945

Other

Crash Landed

Felpham, West Sussex, UK 4 July 1944

Other

Discharged USAAF

30 October 1945 Honourable discharge.

Other

Third Tour of Duty

11 February 1951 - 12 February 1953

Enlisted

11 February 1951

Other

Discharged USAF

12 February 1953 Honourable discharge.

Died

16 December 1988

Buried

Hillcrest Cemetery Conway, Horry County, SC 19 December 1988 Hillcrest Cemetery Conway, Horry County, South Carolina

Revisions

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

information provided by Paul Masoni (Son)

Department of Veterans affairs record.

Date
ContributorEmily
Changes
Sources

Associated aircraft based on bio

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

 Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol.  IV by Bishop & Hey, p p. 27-8 w/ pix of ac / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Oswald J Masoni: Gallery (1 items)