Stephen Louis Silvestro

Military

Stephen Silvestro was Tail Gunner on B-24D #42-51112 on the 31 March 1945 mission to Brunswick, Germany. Hit by a German Me262 jet fighter, the Liberator had one engine out, its Navigator was badly wounded and Pilot Bussell tried to crash-land the ship, with all the crew on board, in a field between Tündern and Hamelin, 45km SW of Hannover, Germany. Navigator Murray D. Robinson and Top Turret Gunner Saul Katz were killed in the crash. The 8 other crew members were made Prisoners of War (POWs) including Steve Silvestro. Missing Air Crew Report – MACR 13735.

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Units served with

People

Dean Parker Kern

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13146259
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Murray D Robinson

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 12177127 at enlistment, then O-2063476
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator

Robert Milton Self

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 732nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 34803615
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Nose Gunner

Thomas David Sherman

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 453rd Bomb Group 733rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18232447
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

Aircraft

Missions

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

5 April 1925 Washington, District of Columbia, the son of Lorenzo Silvestro and Mary Emma (Sartain) Silvestro

Enlisted

18 March 1942 Ft Myer, Virginia

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

31 March 1945 After the crash-landing of B-24D #42-51112 between Tündern and Hamelin, 45km SW of Hannover, Germany

Died

25 July 1999 Port Orange, Florida
Washington, District of Columbia

Revisions

Date
ContributorED-BB
Changes
Sources

MACR 13735
NARA WWII Enlistment records
WWII Draft card

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / The Liberator Men of Old Buc