Remembering October 3, 1944

Transmitted via the '57th Bomb Wing Research List' 6 Oct. 2008 ******************************************************There is a lot more than to it than an old jacket or 50 mission crusher. It is about keeping their memory alive.J.P. In a message dated 10/5/2008 9:00:18 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, jrpunderson writes:

Transmitted via the '57th Bomb Wing Research List' ****************************************************** Remembering the crew of Aircraft 43-27553, “Evora”, 445 BS/ 321 BG

Killed in action October 3, 1944, Mission #578, from Solenzara to Galliate Road Bridge, when their plane took a direct hit from antiaircraft fire on the left engine as it was making its bomb run

Pilot: 1 LT Robert R. FRANK, O-691360 (Buffalo, New York) Co-Pilot: 1 LT Donald C. REED O-440925 (Oregon, Illinois) Bombardier: 1 LT Joseph M. VOELKER O-430307 (Brooklyn, New York) Engineer-Gunner: CPL Emmanuel MILLER 36585109 (Walz, Michigan) Radio-Gunner: T/SG Olin DAVIS, Jr. 36810090 (Saint Louis, Missouri) Armorer-Gunner: S/SG Thomas J. BRICEN, Jr. 33408946 (Weedville, Pennsylvania)

Joe Punderson, nephew of Joe Voelker

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5 Oct. 2008

445th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order xxx/mission xxx) Group Mission # 578: The 445th squadron ran into plenty of trouble today when they helped bomb the Galliate road bridge, Italy. This "hot" target is surrounded by a heavy network of anti-aircraft defenses and the accurate flak cost the squadron two aircraft, including Capt. Russell, the leader. "Ace" Russell was very popular with the men in the squadron. In the ship with him were Capt. Casaburi, navigation officer, and Lt. Daniel Galindo, an ace bombardier. The ship was seen to go down under control and the crew all bailed out safely. Lt. Frank also went down with his crew. His ship went into flames and its doubtful if any got out. Even with the intense and accurate flak, this squadron’s bombardiers got their bombs well concentrated in the target area with 100 percent bombing accuracy.

Tuesday, 3 October 1944

A/C No. 43-27740 (shot down)

A/C No. 43-27553 "Evora" (shot down)

P

Russell, Lawrence L. "Scrap Iron", Capt

Frank, Robert R., 1Lt

CP

Martin, John W., 2Lt

Reed, Donald C., 1Lt

N

Casaburi, Robert R., Capt

None

B

Galindo, Daniel, 1Lt

Voelker, Joseph M., 1Lt

E

Hickey, William R., S/Sgt

Miller, Emanuel (NMI), Cpl

R

Plott, John M., T/Sgt

Davis, Olin (NMI), Jr., T/Sgt

G

Tronolone, Joseph A., Cpl

Bricen, Thomas J., Jr., S/Sgt

F

None

None

PRINCESSBARBI Barbara Ennis Connolly

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Miller, Emanuel (NMI), Cpl., Engineer-Gunner, Enlistment Service # : 36585109 KILLED IN ACTION on 03 October 1944 -- U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 UNAVAILABLE~ENLISTMENT RECORD CANNOT BE FOUND --

WWI, WWII, and Korean War Casualty Listings Name: Emmanuel Miller Death Date: 3 Oct 1944 Cemetery: Florence American Cemetery Cemetery Burial Plot: Plot H Row 4 Grave 5 Cemetery City: Florence Cemetery Country: Italy War: World War II Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters Title: Corporal Rank: Corporal Service: U.S. Army Air Forces Service ID: 36585109 Division: 445th Bomber Squadron, 321st Bomber Group, Medium Data Source: World War II Honor Roll -- U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945 Name: Emmanuel Miller Gender: Male Race: White Religion: Protestant Cemetery Name: Florence (Permanent Cemetery), Florence, Italy Grave Number: H 4 5 Disposition: According to next of kin Service Branch: Army Rank: Corporal Service Number: 36585109 -- From: findagrave.com Cpl Emmanuel Miller Birth: unknown Death: Oct. 3, 1944 Note: Entered the service from Michigan. Burial: Florence American Cemetery and Memorial Florence, Toscana, Italy Plot: Not Given -- National WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C. Registry~NARA~War Department Files Honoree Hometown Service Source Emmanuel Miller Wayne County, MI U.S. Army National Archives CPL Emmanuel Miller ID: 36585109 Branch of Service: U.S. Army Hometown: Wayne County, MI Status: KIA -- National WWII Memorial, Washington, D.C. Registry~NARA~War Department Files Honoree Hometown Service Source Emmanuel Miller MI U.S. Army Air Forces ABMC Cemeteries Emmanuel Miller ID: 36585109 Entered the Service From: Michigan Rank: Corporal Service: U.S. Army Air Forces, 445th Bomber Squadron, 321st Bomber Group, Medium Died: Tuesday, October 03, 1944 Buried at: Florence American Cemetery Location: Via Cassia, Italy Plot: H Row: 4 Grave: 5 Awards: Air Medal with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters