Dominic Charles Lepore was born on March 25, 1921, in Elizabeth, Union County, New Jersey. He was the son of Salvatore LePore and Anna LePore. He was married to Margaret L. Crincoli Lepore. He enlisted in the Army on September 25, 1942. He served in the 364th Bomber Squadron, 305th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Sergeant and Tail Gunner of the B-17 #42-3436 during World War II.

On October 14, 1943, the B-17F Flying Fortress #42-3436 joined a major Allied mission to bomb Schweinfurt's industrial targets. Known as "Black Thursday," the raid faced fierce resistance, with bombers lacking long-range fighter escorts. The aircraft came under heavy attack from German fighters, suffering critical damage, including hits to its number 2 engine. Around 13:45, the B-17 broke apart midair. The tail section, with two deceased waist gunners, fell near a Dutch coal mine, while the nose section crashed in Germany near Finkenrath. Five crew members survived but were captured; the co-pilot was never found.

Sgt Lepore was captured by the Nazis and sent to Stalag 17B near Krems, Austria. After the war, Dominic returned to the US, running a used car lot and later owning a General Motors Oldsmobile dealership and a Mazda dealership in Linden, New Jersey. While the economic challenges of the 1970s eventually shuttered his businesses. Sgt Lepore died on May 3, 1995, and is now buried in the Saint Gertrude Cemetery and Mausoleum, Colonia, Middlesex County, New Jersey, USA.

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com