Giocondo Albin Rufini was born on August 5, 1924 in Rome, Cittą Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy. He was the son of Germano Rufini and Augostina Rufini. He resided Erie County, Pennsylvania prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on March 25, 1943 in Erie, Pennsylvania. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed in transportation and also as Single, without dependents. Giocondo served as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on B-24J #44-41451, 375th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #44-41451 took off, with a crew of 10 and 1 passenger, from Chengkung, China on a combat sweep over the south China sea. They were last contacted by radio at 0230 hours and reported they were flying near Mengtez, China, over friendly territory. It is unknown what happened to this B-24 however the entire crew was lost on this mission. Giocondo was declared "Missing In Action" on this mission during the war on November 16, 1944. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until March 18, 1946. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines.

2Lt Rufini was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov