Rocco Antonio Curelli
MilitaryThe 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 raid on Germany on Wednesday last. O.PS. The crew of the Liberator, Jenny, leaving after the U.S. raid on Germany. (Barratt's. 29/1/43).' Roger Freeman Collection
FindAGrave Memorial - Gola G Gibby
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 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31157299
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 93rd Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36241507
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 66th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32468888
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 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 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 66th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
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
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56307879/rocco-antonio-curelli
Removed # from A/C serial No. to aid clarity and consistency
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