Anthony Louis Destro

Military
media-50993.png UPL 50993 2LT Anthony L. Destro - 445th BG - KIA 22 DEC 1943

A. L. D. II

Object Number - UPL 50993 - 2LT Anthony L. Destro - 445th BG - KIA 22 DEC 1943

Assigned to 702BS, 445BG, 8AF, USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Netherlands in B-24 42-7554 22-Dec-43; crashed into the cemetery in Mirns, Friesland, Netherlands Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 15597



On 22-Dec-43 Anthony's plane was shot down by German fighter planes while on a bombing mission between Bolsward and Workum in the Netherlands. Anthony and 6 of his fellow crew-members were killed in the crash. Their plane crashed down into the cemetery of the town of Mirns.



A funeral plot, caskets and flowers were donated by the town of Mirns and a formal burial was made for the dead crew-members at the near by RK Cemetery in Bakhuizen.



Today there is a plaque at the cemetery honoring Anthony and his crew-mates who lost their lives that day defending the people of Holland from the brutal Nazi occupation of their country.



Awards: PH.



Story written about the crash in Mar-2015 by Mr. Jaap Halma - http://www.heritageleague.org/brian/54.pdf



11-Nov2015: YouTube video of event: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVpI3Tf-GWc

Commemoration ceremony photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/b-24_liberator_42-7554/albums

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-465407
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-807665 / # 12035086
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 38188018
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-674179 / 129-07-0548
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33325811
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Asst Engineer / Waist Gunner

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
  • Nicknames: Tail End Charlie
  • Unit: 445th Bomb Group 702nd Bomb Squadron

Missions

Places

Signal Squares on the airfield at Tibenham, B-24 Liberators of the 398th Bomb Group are visible in the background. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Tibenham Signal Squares.'
  • Site type: Airfield
  • Known as: Tivetshall

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Jamestown, NY 15 January 1921 Son of Luigi and Mary [Agate] Destro.

Enlisted

Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, FL 16 January 1942 Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida

Died

8573 Mirns, Netherlands 22 December 1943

Buried

Memphis National Cemetery Memphis, Shelby County, TN 30 August 1950 Re-Interred Memphis National Cemetery Memphis, Shelby County, Tennessee Also buried with Anthony are three of his crew-mate's: *1st LT. John Harold Allen, Pilot *T/Sgt. James C. Owens, Asst. Engineer *T/Sgt Oscar Robbins, Jr., Radio Operator

Based

Tibenham 22 December 1943 Assigned to 702BS, 445BG, 8AF, USAAF.

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All from the same crew/ACFT. Anthony L. Destro II, nephew of Navigator

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Family history - he was my uncle

http://media.nara.gov/nw/305270/EE-2946.pdf

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Anthony L. Destro II family history

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B-24H-1-FO, #42-7554 "Tail End Charlie"

From Dutch Journalists Jaap Halma's investigative eye witness story & report.
http://www.heritageleague.org/brian/54.pdf

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Anthony L Destro II from family info

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Anthony L. Destro II 's personal family information

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Birsic, 2AD Roll of Honor / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Anthony Louis Destro: Gallery (13 items)