John (NMI) Cafarelli ( 12017627 ) Born in New York in 1921. He enlisted into the Army of the United States at Queens, NY on 9 Sept. 1940 as a Private. John had completed 3 years of High School, was working full time and was still single at enlistment.

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John Cafarelli served during WWII and Korea ---

Cafarelli, John (036614) Born N.Y. Aug 2, 1921

Pvt, Pfc, Sgt M.D. Sept 1940- Sept 1942 (Rated Pilot Aircraft Commander)

2nd LT A.U.S. Sept 11, 1942

( moving from the Army to the Army Air Corps he graduated flight school near Vine Grove KY)

1st LT A.U.S. Oct 16, 1942

**Lt John Caferelli was 1st trained in B-17 (Heavies) at Lackland AAB, TX and sent to England to fly Combat in the 8th Air Force. *After finishing his Combat Tour in England, he was returned to the States. In early 1945 John was trained to fly the B-29 and was then sent to Guam on the Pacific Theatre Of Operations.*

Capt A.U.S. Mar 2, 1946

After the War, in June, 1948, (then) Maj. John took his wife Marion with young William and baby John and moved to Germany. The family was billeted with 6 or so other 8th AAF Pilot families in an enormous sized German High-Command Officer's Estate. We were there about a year since the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Allied control and supplies had to be flown in. Major John was one of the key pilots in flying necessary supplies across the Soviet Zone and into Berlin in C-27 Transports. John and his family were returned to the States in about a year.

Major John Cafarelli, B-26 Invader, night-time bombing raids in Korea, 1952. Squadron still unknown (his Martin B-26 Invader (light bomber) was called "The Florida Flyer,"). "IRON DUKE* was the Major's nickname. He completed his Combat Tour and returned to the USA.

During 1956, LTC John was the Commanding Officer of the 350th Air Refueling Squadron, the "Red Falcons"..

Col Cafarelli - 29 August, 1921 (New York) - 11 Oct. 1964 Col Cafarelli passed at only 43 years of age at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, DC.

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=22467103&rand=333

Col. John Cafarelli's photo's and info from John's proud son William (19 March, 2014)

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