Name:
Claudio S. Carano
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
32410832
Unit:
535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy
Date of Death:
1996-08-18
State:
Florida
Cemetery:
Fred Hunter's Hollywood Memorial Gardens West, Hollywood, Broward County, Florida, USA
Plot:
Section 4, Lot Mausoleum
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Comments:
Claudio S. Carano was born on March 11, 1920. He served in the 535th Bomber Squadron, 381st Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-17 #42-31097 'Mission Belle' during World War II. He was one of the survivors of their December 1, 1943 mission over Leverkusen, Germany, when their aircraft was hit by flak and attacked by enemy fighters. The airplane was severely damaged, so the crew decided to ditch the airplane in the River Lek between Streefkerk and Nieuw-Lekkerland, Netherlands. During the enemy attack, one member was Killed in Action while two other members drowned in the river. The surviving members were taken as POWs. Sgt Carano was sent to Stalag Luft III and Stalag XIII-D.