Rocco Antonio Curelli
Military![The crew of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23778) nicknamed "Jenny", of the 44th Bomb Group, return to Shipdham following a raid on Germany, 29 January 1943.
The insignia attached to the breast of several crew members jackets has been censored.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 29 Jan 1943.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'First American raid on Germany. Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the U.S. Army Air Corps Carried out their first r](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/wysiwyg_x2/public/freeman/media-379072.jpg.webp?itok=olJdXBg2)
Object Number - FRE 636 - The crew of the B-24D Liberator, serial number 41-23778, named, Jenny, in the 44th Bomb Group, returns to Shipdham following a raid on Germany, 27...
Pilot 2ndLt. Rocco A. Curelli - KIA - Foggia, Italy
Hometown: Massachusetts
Squadron: 66th Bomb Squadron - 44th Bomb Group - 8th Air force
Service No. O-670981
Awards: Distinguished Flying Cross - Purple Heart
Lt. Rocco Antonio Curelli was assigned to the 8th Air Force, the 44th Bomb Group, and the 66th Bomb Squadron.
Lt. Curelli was killed flying his B-24D, Lady Luck, on a bombing attack on the Foggia airfields in Italy under temporarily deployment, TDY to the 9th Air Force. - SSgt. Harper Zoller was a gunner (KIA) on the Rocco Curelli crew, 66th Bomb Squadron. The plane was attacked by German fighters. It was hit by cannon fire, caught on fire, and exploded. The Radio Operator, SSgt. Wesley Zimmerman, was blown out of the airplane by the explosion. He was captured, escaped, and returned to Shipdham, U.K. All the others were killed in action (KIA) in the crash. This was the crew’s second mission. The MACR states - "Witnesses from a local village confirmed that the pilot, Lt. Rocco Curelli, was alive prior to Fallschirmjager's arrival. Shots were heard, after which he was seen dead, shot in the neck." - Killed in action in the B-24D, 41-23778, Lady Luck. 16 Aug 1943. 1 POW - 9 KIA - RTD. MACR 2141 - 3150
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31157299
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 93rd Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36241507
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
![Corporal John R. Hughes, of the 303rd Bomb Group, cleans his boots. Image stamped on reverse: ‘Copyright Current Affairs Ltd.’ [stamp], ‘Passed for Publication 28 Jan 1943. [stamp] and ‘245686.’ [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: ''Cleaning the English mud from his boots is Cpl. John R. Hughes, of 101, West 91 St. N.Y.C. Aged 22, he formerly worked in his father's business at 752 Broadway, N.Y.C. His parents, Mr and Mrs. Hughes, live at W. 91 Street. Cpl Hughes was educated at Commerce Hig](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-378891.jpg.webp?itok=wmOhgGM8)
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32468888
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39078859 / O-743260
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-797402
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Jenny - Lady Luck
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group The Flying Eightballs 66th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description: 177 B-24’s, of IX Bomber Command (including Heavy Bombers on loan from Eighth AF) are dispatched to bomb oil refineries at Ploesti and nearby Campina. The operation (TIDALWAVE) is costly, 54 planes and 532 airmen being lost, but damage to the targets...
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Berka, al Birkah
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Pathway
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Sicily-Rome American Cemetery, Nettuno, Italy
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Boston, MA | 8 May 1919 | Son of Biagio and Fausta Curelli. Brother to Rudolph, Ubaldo and Gloria. |
|
Enlisted |
Boston, MA | 19 March 1942 | Boston, Massachusetts |
|
Died |
Ruoti, Italy | 16 August 1943 | Shot down and killed in action (KIA)in the B-24D, 41-23778, Lady Luck, on a mission over Foggia, Italy. 16 Aug 1943. MACR 2141-3150 |
|
Buried |
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial | Re-Interred Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial Nettuno, Italy Plot J Row 5 Grave 63 | |
|
Based |
16 August 1943 | Assigned to the 66th Bomb Squadron, the 44th Bomb Group, 8th Air Force. USAAF. | |
| Biddeford, MN | Biddeford, Minneapolis |
Revisions
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23778 - Lady Luck - Jenny
Best Web - B-24 - 41-23778 - Lady Luck - ( formerly Jenny )
FindAGrave.com - Memorial 56307879 - Rocco Antonio Curelli
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56307879/rocco-antonio-curelli
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
FindAGrave - Lt. Rocco A. Curelli
44th Bomb Group's Association
MACR 2141/3150
MACR 2141/3150
44th BG Roll of Honor/MACR3150; 44th Bomb Group, The Flying Eightballs, pg 21 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
![The crew of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23778) nicknamed "Jenny", of the 44th Bomb Group, return to Shipdham following a raid on Germany, 29 January 1943.
The insignia attached to the breast of several crew members jackets has been censored.
Image stamped on reverse: 'Barratt's Photo Press.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 29 Jan 1943.' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'First American raid on Germany. Flying Fortresses and Liberators of the U.S. Army Air Corps Carried out their first r](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379072.jpg.webp?itok=arU0mR30)