Angelo Joseph Virgona

Military
media-40964.jpeg UPL 40964 Jay Ossiander's crew. L-R Back Row: Penrose Reagan, Angelo Virgona, George Clarke, Donald Rouse, Ancil Anderson, Tommy Higdon.

Jay Ossiander's Crew Photograph with names.

Object Number - UPL 40964 - Jay Ossiander's crew. L-R Back Row: Penrose Reagan, Angelo Virgona, George Clarke, Donald Rouse, Ancil Anderson, Tommy Higdon.

Completed 35 missions. Angelo passed away on 28-Nov-19 at the age of 98. He was very proud of his service and went to the Mighty Eighth Museum in GA several times. It wasn't until after he passed and going through his effects that we learned that he had earned the Distinguished Flying Cross for saving the life of a fellow crewman. After the war he earned a Master's Degree in Chemistry and worked in the pharmaceutical industry developing antibiotic drugs and radiopharmaceuticals. He married and raised four children, had 3 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild at the time of his death. He was a kind and good man, dedicated to his family and an asset to his community. He is interred at the Beaufort National Cemetery in Beaufort SC - plot D98.



Angelo's first crew was with pilot Jay Ossiander. Angelo was supposed to fly with Jay on aircraft 42-107092 when a cold temporarily grounded him for a mission. That aircraft took flak and was diverted to Switzerland where his crew mates were interned for the rest of the war. Angelo went on to serve with other crews, often as a fill-in, and completed his full tour of duty. His former crew mate Penrose (Ray) Reagan went on star in a motion picture filmed in Switzerland called "The Last Chance". Angelo would say, "If I had made that mission, I might have been a movie star."



Awards: DFC, AM (4OLC), GC, WWII Victory, EAME (2 x Battle Stars).

Connections

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Units served with

A pathfinder B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 44-8258) of the 401st Bomb Group. Image by Robert Astrella. Written on slide casing: '48258 14 A, Mount Farm.'
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39547924
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: waist gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14084697
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-755401
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 401st Bomb Group 615th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32753028
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Brooklyn, NY 12 June 1921 Son of Leonardo Virgona.

Enlisted

New York City, NY 23 June 1942 New York City, New York

Died

Beaufort, SC 29 November 2019 Angelo Joseph Virgona died peacefully on Friday, November 29, 2019 at Beaufort Memorial Hospital, after a short illness. He was 98 years old. Angelo was born on June 12, 1921 in Brooklyn, NY. His parents were Calogero Virgona and Leonarda Curreri. Angelo married Mary Girgenti on June 11, 1949. They were a devoted couple and did everything together for 65 years until her death in 2014. They met before WWII. Technical Sgt. Angelo served in WWII with the Army Air Force. He was a Radio Operator, Mechanic, and Gunner in the European Theater. He flew 35 missions and received the Air Medal with the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Service Stars, and the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal. After the war, Angelo used the GI bill to pursue a Chemistry degree at Fordham University. With this degree, he became employed at ER Squibb and Sons while living in Piscataway, NJ. While in Piscataway, Angelo and Mary raised four children ~ Charles (Terry), Richard (Valerie), Fred (Mariann), and Mary (William). He then took a job at Union Carbide in Tuxedo, NY, and the family moved to Chester, NY. His final job was Plant Manager at Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals in NJ. In the 1970’s, they moved to Apopka, Florida and ran a plant nursery for many years. After retiring, Angelo and Mary enjoyed cruising to many locations including Japan, Italy, Alaska, Hong Kong, and Hawaii (to see the eclipse). They loved traveling together. Angelo and Mary also volunteered at the Apopka Police Deaprtment, the Orange County Sheriff Department, and with their local church, St. Francis of the Assisi in Apopka. In their final years, they moved to Bluffton, SC, near their son Fred. Family life was very important to Angelo. He encouraged all of his children to get a college education. He was a proud and devoted grandparent. He had three grandchildren. He adored his great-granddaughter. Angelo took great joy in his family. He loved a good meal, especially Italian food. He enjoyed Opera and Italian music. Angelo was predeceased by his parents, Calogero and Leonarda, his sisters Jean Cincotta, and Carmela Lanzano, and his wife Mary. He leaves behind his children, grandchildren, great granddaughter, and many, many nieces and nephews. Angelo will be truly missed by all who knew him. He lived a long, full life. He was deeply loved.

Buried

Beaufort National Cemetery Beaufort, Beaufort County, SC Beaufort National Cemetery Beaufort, Beaufort County, South Carolina

Based

Deenethorpe Assigned to 615BS, 401BG, 8AF USAAF.

Other

Discharged USAAF

Honourable discharge.

Revisions

Date
ContributorAl_Skiff
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ContributorAl_Skiff
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Date
ContributorBill Buskey
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Sources

Jay Ossiander's Crew Photograph

Date
ContributorBill Buskey
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Personal Knowledge

Date
ContributorBill Buskey
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Personal knowledge, story told to me by Angelo.

Date
ContributorBill Buskey
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Personal knowledge - my Father in Law

Date
ContributorBill Buskey
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Crew Photograph and personal knowledge

Date
ContributorBill Buskey
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Personal knowledge.

Date
ContributorBill Buskey
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Sources

Sourced from discharge papers and commendation papers.

Date
ContributorBill Buskey
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Sources

Sourced from discharge papers.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes

Angelo Joseph Virgona: Gallery (1 items)