Joseph Albert Pappalardo
Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Michel Beckers WW2CRASHSITERESEARCH
Object Number - UPL 30401 - Joseph A Pappalardo
On a mission to Poznan, Poland, B-17G #42-39894 'Barbara' left the formation due to a fuel leak and was shot down by fighters, exploded in mid-air, and crashed near Funen, Denmark on 20 Feb 1944. Killed in Action (KIA).
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: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-803675
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-672514
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Old 66 / Lady Margaret
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Jeannie
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Boomerang Barbara
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 561st Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 20 February 1944
- Date: 13 February 1944
- Date: 6 February 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
New Orleans, Louisiana | 26 December 1922 | |
|
Enlisted |
New Orleans, LA | 11 February 1943 | |
|
Died |
Assens, Denmark | 20 February 1944 | SSgt Joseph Albert Pappalandro was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on December 26, 1922. His NARA enlistment record confirms he was born in 1922. It also states he was inducted into service at New Orleans, Louisiana on February 11, 1943. It further states he had completed 4 years of high school, was single, and had been employed as a general industry clerk. After basic training, he was sent to flexible aerial gunnery school. He graduated from this course, and was promoted to Sergeant. He was then assigned to an operational unit for combat crew assignment, further gunnery training, and flight armorer duties. In January 1944 he was assigned to the 388th Bomb Group, operating from Knettishall, England. He was further assigned to the 561st Bomb Squadron where he took up duties as a ball turret gunner. He flew his first combat mission on February 6, 1944 as a member of the Warden crew aboard B-17G # 42-30778, "Lady Margaret." On February 13, 1944, he flew a mission with the Payne crew. His second mission with the Payne crew came on February 20, 1944. The crew participated in a bomb strike on Pozan, Poland. As the bomber formation crossed the Danish peninsula, it was attacked by a large group of enemy aircraft. These attacks continued the rest of the way in, over the target, and in the withdrawal. The target was bombed, and the formation turned for home, still under attack. Lt Payne radioed he was returning to base on a route not briefed as he had a massive fuel leak. No word was heard from him again. The aircraft continued on, and made an emergency landing at Assen, Denmark where all the crew but one was killed in the landing. The tail gunner survived, badly wounded, and was captured and sent to a German military hospital. |
|
Buried |
Metarie, LA | Metairie Cemetery New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, USA Add to Map Plot All Saints Mausoleum |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2432, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces
