Johnnie Bevilacqua was on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. Johnnie Bevilacqua and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned to base, but Bombardier James H. Shaver and Top Turret Gunner Edward F. Myers were made prisoner as they had bailed out.
He died 23 April 1975 in Reno NV.
MACR 10468.
From the Nevada State Journal, April 18, 1945 : “A second oak leaf cluster to his Air Medal has been awarded to Sgt. Johnnie P. Bevilacqua of Reno for "meritorious achievement' while participating in bombing attacks upon military, rail and industrial targets in Germany. Sgt. Bevilacqua, 21, is a waist gunner on an Eighth Air Force B-17. He received his wings at the Las Vegas aerial gunnery school in May, 1944, having entered the Army Air Forces in October, 1943.”
Service
People
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
S/Sgt Gail E. Anderson Jr was Tail Gunner on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. Anderson and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned to...
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Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
1st Lt Clifford W. Foss was pilot of B-17 Serial 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. Clifford Foss and 6 others of his 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned...
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Robert W. Houston was on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. Houston and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned to base, but Bombardier...
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Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 385th Bomb Group
Myron M. Loyet was on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. Loyet and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned to base, but Bombardier James...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 385th Bomb Group
Top Turret Gunner T/Sgt Edward F. Myers was on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. The pilot and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned...
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 385th Bomb Group
Theodore E. Otto was on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. Ted Otto and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned to base, but Bombardier...
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Military | Lieutenant | Co-Pilot / Pilot | 385th Bomb Group
Otho J. Quick was on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. Quick and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned to base, but Bombardier...
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Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 385th Bomb Group
Lt James Shaver was bombardier on board 43-38566 on the 21 November 1944 mission. That plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another 550th Squadron aircraft, 43-38270. The pilot and 6 others of the 9-man crew on 43-38566 returned to base, but...
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Units served with
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Group
The 385th Bomb Group, who took the nickname "Van's Valiants" after their first Commanding Officer Col. Elliot Vandevanter, flew B-17s from Great Ashfield, Suffolk. The Group led the famous attack on the Focke-Wolfe aircraft factory at Marienburg on 9...
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Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 18/8/44; Lincoln 6/9/44; Grenier 24/9/44; Assigned 550BS/385BG [SG-T] Gt Ashfield 25/9/44; returning from Osnabruck 21/11/44 with Cliff Foss (Cobb), Otho Quick, Myron Loyet, Theo Otto, Bob Houston, John Bevilcqua, Gail Anderson (7...
Associated Place
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Military site : airfield
The airfield was built in 1942 by John Laing & Son Ltd. 108,000 tons of concrete was used in its construction, creating a Class 'A' airfield suitable for heavy bombers. The 385th Bomb Group took up residence in the summer of 1943, and remained at the...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Born |
Nevada, United States |
1923 |
Enlisted |
Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
27 October 1943 |
Returned (RTD) |
Germany |
21 November 1944 |
Lived in |
Reno, Nevada, United States |
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