James Angelo Verinis

Military
Staff Sergeant Casimer Nastal of the 91st Bomb Group in the waist gun position of his B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-A, serial number 41-24485) nicknamed "Memphis Belle" Passed for publication 10 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Not For Publication Before 00.30 June 10th. Flying Fortress Returns To U.S.A. After 25 Operations. June 1943. At an 8th Army Air Station somewhere in England, Lt.-Gen. Jacob L. Devers, and Major-General Ira. C. Eaker, bidded fare-well to the Flying Fortress "Memphis Belle" which i media-408068.jpg FRE 3501 Capt James A Verinis with mascot Scottie 'Stuka' of the 91st Bomb Group in the waist gun position of his B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-A, serial number 41-24485) nicknamed "Memphis Belle" Passed for publication 10 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Not For Publication Before 00.30 June 10th. Flying Fortress Returns To U.S.A. After 25 Operations. June 1943. At an 8th Army Air Station somewhere in England, Lt.-Gen. Jacob L. Devers, and Major-General Ira. C. Eaker, bidded fare-well to the Flying Fortress "Memphis Belle" which is returning to the United States after completing 25 missions over enemy territory. The crew will instruct airmen back home, who will follow in their footsteps in the great Allied Air Offensives against the enemy. Picture shows - Capt James A Verinis Co-Pilot chatting with General Devers..' On reverse: US Army Press & Censorship Bureau [Stamp]. Print No: 268682 Roger Freeman Collection

Roger Freeman Collection - Corrected identified airman - Capt James A Verinis stands at the waist position of S/Sgt Casimer A Nastal.

Object Number - FRE 3501 - Capt James A Verinis with mascot Scottie 'Stuka' of the 91st Bomb Group in the waist gun position of his B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-A, serial number...

Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF. 25 x combat missions with 'Memphis Belle' and crew, though he qualified as a first pilot, chose to take a co-pilots seat, rather than wait for enough A/C to be available for him to have his own crew and kite, he flew their sixth mission as pilot on 'Memphis Belle,' returned to USA for war bond tour. Subsequently, returned to ETO, given his own crew and aircraft named 'The Connecticut Yankee'.



James Verinis attended the University of Connecticut on a basketball scholarship, enlisting upon graduation in Juy 1941. A pilot with the 91st BG he was reputed to be the first to complete a tour of 25 missions - on 'Connecticut Yankee' - and was accordingly sent on the War Bonds tour of the USA with 'Memphis Belle'. Verinis was a Lt. Colonel in the Air Force Reserve and ran a contract furniture business in civilian life. He died 3rd March 2003 being survived by his wife, a son and a daughter.



Awards: DFC, AM, WWII Victory, EAME.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Mascot
  • Nationality: British
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Other
  • Role/Job: Crews mascot / Morale Officer

Aircraft

Lieutenant-General Jacob L. Devers adresses a bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group in front of their B-17 Flying Fortress (DF-A, serial number 41-24485) nicknamed "Memphis Belle". Passed for publication 10 Jun 1943. Printed caption on reverse: 'Not For Publication Before 00.30 June 10th. Flying Fortress Returns To U.S.A. After 25 Operations. June 1943. At an 8th Army Air Station somewhere in England, Lt.-Gen. Jacob L. Devers, and Major-General Ira. C. Eaker, bidded fare-well to the Flying Fortress "Memphis
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Memphis Belle
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Connecticut Yankee
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 324th Bomb Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Stamford, CT, USA 23 October 1916 Son of Peter and Diamanto Verinis.

Enlisted

Hartford, CT 14 July 1941 Hartford, Connecticut

Other

Assigned

Walla Walla, WA 31 May 1942 Joined 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF stateside.

Based

Bassingbourn 1 October 1942 - 17 May 1943 Assigned to 324BS, 91BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Discharged USAAF

19 October 1945 Honourable discharge.

Died

Jupiter, FL, USA 3 March 2003

Buried

Beaverdale Memorial Park, New Haven, New Haven County, CT 6 March 2003 Beaverdale Memorial Park New Haven, New Haven County, Connecticut

Other

Pilot training

Charlotte AAF, NC Basic flight training on P-40's and P-39's Charlotte AAF, NC.

Other

Pilot training

Texas Primary flight training in Texas on Boeing Stearmans.

Revisions

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Biography completed by historian Helen Millgate. Information sourced from newsletters of the 91st Bomb Group related to the service of Angelo Verinis.

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Contributorjmoore43
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Added birth, death & burial data per Find-a-grave MEMORIAL ID 12391865.

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Merged with duplicate entry to include details from:
- the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia ;
- Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum Membership List, July 2000;
- 8th AF News, September 1999

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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Duplicate

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ContributorWhiskeypapa
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personal knowledge

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ContributorWhiskeypapa
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Personal knowledge

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ContributorWhiskeypapa
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Personal knowledge

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Changes
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Personal and biographical information taken from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=90988190

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Changes
Sources

Personal and biographical information taken from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=90988190

Date
Changes
Sources

Personal and biographical information taken from http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=90988190

James Angelo Verinis: Gallery (12 items)