Inside the museum.

An exhibit dedicated to 2Lt Santo A. Giamalva. The panel contains several pictures of 2Lt Giamalva and relics from his airplane. Two laminated papers are also there which contain about his airplane and the history of 2Lt Giamalva’s crash.

Source of images: www.ranes1944.org

On the laminated papers:

Left

14th August 1944

Ranes, France

Republic P47D-26-RA Thunderbolt. Serial No. 42-28361.

358th Fighter Group, 366th Fighter Squadron, United States 9th Air

Force, Cretteville, France.

This aircraft was probably hit by flak after being vectored to bomb roads between Ranes and Ecouche on which enemy tanks were retreating. The pilot radioed that his engine was out and no more was heard from him. In the crash, Second Lieutenant Santo "Little Buddy" Giamalva was killed and the aircraft was destroyed.

Right

Santo A. Giamalva. "Little Buddy"

O-820257. Second Lieutenant. American

358th  Fighter Group, 366th Fighter Squadron.

Died 14th August 1944.

Lieutenant Giamalva entered the service from Alabama.

Assigned to the Thunderbolt equipped 358th Fighter Group at High Halden, 2nd Lt. Santo A. Giamalva joined the 366th Fighter Squadron on the 3rd July 1944, as one of five replacements.

On the 6th July he flew his first mission, as the 358th provided fighter escort to a formation of B-26 medium bombers attacking a target near Arras. Another mission on the 12th and again on the 14th when the 358th flew their last mission from High Halden - Armed Reconnaissance over northern France. Lt. Giamalva assisted his Flight Leader in destroying three or four heavily defended railroad cars, before over 35 enemy fighters suddenly attacked their squadron. In the ensuing dog-fight Lt. Giamalva claimed the destruction of one enemy aircraft.

Over the next few days the 358th Fighter Group moved base from High Halden to Cretteville in France. Santo Giamalva resumed flying on the 24th July with one, sometimes two missions daily until the end of the month. Armed with 500lb bombs, he and the 366th Fighter Squadron were involved in dive-bombing and strafing attacks against tank repair depots, gun emplacements, vehicles, rail-road crossings, horse-drawn artillery and troops.

August saw him flying Armed Reconnaissance missions to provided aid for Allied ground forces. Generally these flights were over two hours in duration and involved attacks on marshalling yards, gun installations and vehicles whilst under intense anti-aircraft fire.

Lt. Giamalva had flown over twenty missions, when on the 14th August 1944, he took off on his last. The squadron was vectored to bomb roads between Ranes and Ecouche, which enemy tanks were retreaing along. Armed with 500lb bomb, Lt. Giamalva was last seen attacking tanks at Renes. With his aircraft probably hit by flak, he radioed that his engine was out, and no more was heard from him. He was Killed in Action after just 40 days of combat flying.

Second Lieutenant Santo A. Giamalva was awarded the Air Medal with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters.

He is buried at The Brittany American Cemetery, St. James, France.

(Plot K, Row 4, Grave 22).