Anthony E Greco
Military ROLL OF HONOURTail gunner, Wilson, A crew. Assigned to 534BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Ludwigshaffen in B-17 42-3078 'Winsome Winn'. Mission #58 to the IG Farben plant at Ludwigshafen, Germany. Damaged by flak, the a/c fell behind and was attacked by fighters. The crew baled out when fire broke out in numbers 1 & 2 engines, A/C exploded at 500 ft. Killed in Action (KIA). 7-Jan-44. MACR 1873.
The German captors told the crew that Sgt Greco's parachute did not open, Sgt's Hawkins and Sussek swore they witnessed his parachute open.
Sgt Greco had two quotes remembered by his crew that day:
"Kick er Willie!" told to the pilot, Lt Wilson, for evasive action.
"Here comes two! Come and get it, damn krauts!" Last quote overheard by Sgt's Hawkins and Sussek.
Awards: AM(OLC), PH.
Connections
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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: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-739544
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36533448
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer/Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12160072
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35208958
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 381st Bomb Group 534th Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33286445
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator Gunner
Aircraft
![A B-17 Flying Fortress (GD-M, serial number 42-3078) of the 534th Bomb Squadron, 381st Bomb Group in flight. Handwritten caption on reverse: '381st BG.' On reverse: George J. Letzter [Stamp].](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-413534.jpg.webp?itok=vO_dEsA8)
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Winsome Winn
- Unit: 2nd Strategic Air Depot 100th Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 95th Bomb Group 334th Bomb Squadron 534th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 7 January 1944
- Date: 5 January 1944
- Date: 31 December 1943
- Date: 16 December 1943
- Date: 5 December 1943
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Lorraine American Cemetery, St Avold, France
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Enlisted |
Providence, RI, USA | 18 July 1941 | Providence, Rhode Island |
|
Based |
Ridgewell | 9 November 1943 - 7 January 1944 | Assigned to 534BS, 381BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Died |
Saarbrücken, Germany | 7 January 1944 | Failed to Return (FTR) Ludwigshaffen in B-17F 42-3078 'Winsome Winn'. Damaged by flak, the a/c fell behind and was attacked by fighters. The crew baled out when fire broke out in #'s 1 & 2 engines, a/c exploded at 500 ft. KIA. 7-Jan-44. MACR 1873. |
|
Buried |
Saarbrucken, Germany | 8 January 1944 | Interred Saarbrucken cemetery |
| North Attleboro, Massachusetts, USA | |||
|
Buried |
St Mary's cemetery North Attleborough MA | Re-Interred St Mary's cemetery North Attleborough Massachusetts | |
|
Born |
Bristol County, MA, USA | Son of Eva Greco. | |
|
Buried |
Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial | Temporary Internment Lorraine American Cemetery and Memorial St Avold |
Revisions
381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999; MACR 1873, 8th AF Losses / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 1873 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database