William A Testoni
Military22-Feb-43 Assigned to the 303BG/358BS at Molesworth, UK as an Aerial Gunner of the 2LT James R. Dunn crew.
31 Mar 1943 was one of only 3 survivors when serving as the Left Waist Gunner of B-17F #42-29573 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS sustained a mid-air collision with B-17F #41-24559 "Ooold Soljer", 303BG 360BS during assembly for a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdam, Holland. This occured less than an hour from takeoff with each carrying 6 bombs for the mission to Rotterdam. The planes crashed at Mears Ashby and 303rd reports a memorial to the two crews is there.
Mission Participations (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) See Biography events.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 303rd Bomb Group 358th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-727194
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Missions
- Date: 31 March 1943
- Date: 28 March 1943
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Readsboro, Vermont | 15 June 1917 | |
|
Other Assigned to Unit |
Molesworth, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire PE28, UK | 22 February 1942 | Assigned as an Aerial Gunner with the 2LT James R. Dunn crew at Molesworth, UK. |
|
Other Mission #1, SGT William A. Testoni, W/ B-17F 42-5432, 303BG/358BS |
Rouen, France | 28 February 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-5432 "The Hunting Club", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the railroad marshalling yards at Rouen, France. RTB OK. |
|
Other Mission #2, SGT William A. Testoni, W/ B-17F 42-29573, 303BG/358BS |
Rotterdam, Netherlands | 31 March 1943 | Served as Left Waist Gunner on B-17F 42-29573 "Two Beauts", 303BG/358BS on a mission to bomb the shipyards at Rotterdaam, Holland. The aircraft sustained a mid-air collision with another B-17 during assembly. He was able to bale out of the stricken aircraft safely near Mears Ashby, UK. BO/RTD |
|
Died |
15 November 1994 | ||
|
Buried |
Pittsfield, Massachusetts |
Revisions
Added a "#" to the A/C serial number in the "Summary biography" to aid clarity.
Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #2 event per 303BG Website, Gary Mocnur, Historian, Mission Report of 31-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/027.pdf
Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Mission #1 event per 303BG Website, Gary Mocnur, Historian, Mission Report of 28-Mar-43: http://www.303rdbg.com/missionreports/026.pdf
Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added Assigned to Unit even per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian: James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html
Lee Cunningham 14-Mar-2016. Added initial assignment info, loss details and Mission Participation statement to Summary Biography per 303BG website, Gary Moncur, Historian, James R. Dunn crew page: http://www.303rdbg.com/358dunn.html
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / widow, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop and Hey, p. 94, 303rd web site,