James Angelo Verinis
Military
Object Number - FRE 3501 - Capt James A Verinis with mascot Scottie 'Stuka' of the 91st Bomb Group in the waist gun position of his B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-A, serial number...
Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions with 'Memphis Belle' and crew, though he qualified as a first pilot, chose to take a co-pilots seat, rather than wait for enough A/C to be available for him to have his own crew and kite, he flew their sixth mission as pilot on 'Memphis Belle,' returned to USA for war bond tour. Subsequently, returned to ETO, given his own crew and aircraft named 'The Connecticut Yankee'.
James Verinis attended the University of Connecticut on a basketball scholarship, enlisting upon graduation in Juy 1941. A pilot with the 91st BG he was reputed to be the first to complete a tour of 25 missions - on 'Connecticut Yankee' - and was accordingly sent on the War Bonds tour of the USA with 'Memphis Belle'. Verinis was a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve and ran a contract furniture business in civilian life. He died 3rd March 2003 being survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.
Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Mascot
- Nationality: British
- Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Other
- Role/Job: Crews mascot / Morale Officer
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Stamford, CT, USA | 23 October 1916 | Son of Peter and Diamanto Verinis. |
|
Enlisted |
Hartford, CT | 14 July 1941 | Hartford, Connecticut |
|
Other Assigned |
Walla Walla, WA | 31 May 1942 | Joined 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF stateside. |
|
Based |
Bassingbourn | 1 October 1942 - 17 May 1943 | Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Other Discharged USAAF |
19 October 1945 | Honourable discharge. | |
|
Died |
Jupiter, FL, USA | 3 March 2003 | |
|
Buried |
Beaverdale Memorial Park, New Haven, New Haven County, CT | 6 March 2003 | Beaverdale Memorial Park New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut |
|
Other Pilot training |
Charlotte AAF, NC | Basic flight training on P-40's and P-39's Charlotte AAF, NC. | |
|
Other Pilot training |
Texas | Primary flight training in Texas on Boeing Stearmans. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/606501178
https://www.fold3.com/record/4476054-james-a-verinis
https://www.fold3.com/record/83356384-james-a-verinis
https://www.fold3.com/record/619994849-james-verinis-1916
https://memphisbelle.com/jim-verinis-co-pilot/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/12391865/james-angelo-verinis
Biography completed by historian Helen Millgate. Information sourced from newsletters of the 91st Bomb Group related to the service of Angelo Verinis.
Added birth, death & burial data per Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 12391865.
Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000;
- 8th AF News, September 1999
Duplicate
Personal and biographical information taken from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=90988190
Personal and biographical information taken from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=90988190
Personal and biographical information taken from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=90988190
