Arthur J Bertagna
Military
media-54834.jpeg
UPL 54834
TSGT Arthur J. Bertagna
Bombardier/Aerial Gunner
340th BG - 488th BS - 12th AF
KIA 16 April 1945
Bombardier/Aerial Gunner
340th BG - 488th BS - 12th AF
KIA 16 April 1945
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 340th Bomb Group 488th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 6953321
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 340th Bomb Group 488th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-828759
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Advanced Landing Ground Alesanie
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Cook County, Illinois | 2 September 1924 | |
Enlisted |
Chicago, Illinois | 30 October 1942 | |
Other Combat Mission |
Casalecchio, Italy | 12 October 1944 | 43-35983 |
Other Combat Mission - Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross |
San Michele, Italy | 21 January 1945 | Arthur J. Bertagna, 16145320, T/Sgt, 488th Bomb Sq, 340th Bomb Gp. For extraordinary achievement while participating in aerial flight as bombardier in a B-25 type aircraft. On 21 January 1945, T/Sgt. Bertagna flew in an attack upon a railroad bridge near San Michele, Italy. Upon the completion of the bomb run, a B-25 crashed into his aircraft severing nearly all of the tail assembly and causing the bomber to fall from the pilot's control. Courageously remaining at his post as his pilot regained control and manouvered the crippled plane into level flight, T/Sgt. Bertagna quickly charted an unbriefed course and guided his pilot around known enemy gun positions back to base. Then, skillfully manipulating the trim tabs, T/Sgt. Bertagna enabled his pilot and co-pilot to effect a perfect emergency landing without injury to the crew. On more than fifty combat missions his outstanding proficiency and steadfast devotion to duty have reflected great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United State |
Died |
Tyrrhenian Sea off the east coast of Corsica | 16 March 1945 | The a/c Pelton was piloting, B-25J 43-27551, crashed in flames into the Tyrrhenian Sea shortly after takeoff. |
Buried |
Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial | No Known Grave Tablets of The Missing Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial Nettuno, Città Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy PLOT Tablets of the Missing |
Revisions
Contributor466thHistorian
Changes
Sources
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56306518/arthur-j-bertagna
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=1499&h=2319420…
http://57thbombwing.com/340th_History/487th_History/missions/012145_SMi…
http://57thbombwing.com/340th_History/487th_History/missions/031645_Spi…
https://www.americanairmuseum.com/person/247979