Volpe John

Name:

John Volpe

Rank:

Technical Sergeant

Serial Number:

12154808

Unit:

862nd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group

Date of Death:

1944-12-31

State:

New York

Cemetery:

Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium

Plot:

B

Row:

15

Grave:

16

Decoration:

Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster

Comments:

John Volpe was born on March 7, 1920, in Brooklyn, New York. He served in the 862nd Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner on the B-17 #44-8352 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on December 31, 1944, when his airplane was hit by flak, exploded, and crashed near Hameln, Germany. Seven members of his crew were Killed in Action, while 5 were taken as prisoners.

TSgt Volpe is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium.

The crew that day was Dick Malone, Stan McKay, John Volpe, Gilbert Sousa, Tom Heilman, Bill Lawrence, Capt Dave Whitlock {mission pilot} (7 Killed in Action); Frank Druehl, George Zackert {ex nav}, Art Donovan, Edgar Stoelting, Bill Gleason {ex nav} (5 Prisoner of War).

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, b17flyingfortress.de, www.abmc.gov