Airman Killed During World War II Accounted For (Politte, V.)

By DPAA Public Affairs

WASHINGTON – Army Air Forces Staff Sgt. Vincent L. Politte, killed during World War II, has now been accounted for.

In the summer of 1943, Politte served as a gunner with the 345th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 9th Air Force. He was killed while participating in a raid on the Ploesti Oil Refinery complex north of Bucharest, Romania, during Operation Tidal Wave. The goal of the operation was to destroy the refineries in the area in order to hamper the German war effort. During the raid, Politte’s B-24 Liberator aircraft was hit by machine gun fire and crashed. Following the war, his remains could not be identified.

DPAA is grateful to the American Battle Monuments Commission for their assistance in this mission.

Interment services are pending; more details will be released 7-10 days prior to scheduled funeral services.

Politte’s name is recorded on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery Impruenta, Italy, an American Battle Monuments Commission site, along with the other MIAs from WWII. Although interred as an Unknown in Neuville American Cemetery, Politte’s grave was meticulously cared for over the past 70 years by the ABMC. A rosette will be placed next to his name to indicate he has been accounted for.

For more information about DPAA, visit www.dpaa.mil, find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa, or call 703-699-1420.

POLITTE; VINCENT LEXY
UNITED STATES ARMY AIR FORCES
WORLD WAR II
KS
Individual Type Accounted For
Rank S Sgt
Service Number 17057823
Location Rumania
Date of Loss 8/01/1943
Unit 345 BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON 98 BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY)

On April 11, 2018, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) identified the remains of Staff Sergeant Vincent L. Politte, missing from World War II.

Staff Sergeant Politte entered the U.S. Army Air Forces from Kansas and served in the 345th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy). On August 1, 1943, he was a gunner aboard a B-24D Liberator (serial number 41-24246) that was shot down over Ploesti, Romania, during Operation Tidal Wave, a raid on critical German oil refineries. His body was recovered after the incident, but could not be identified at the time and was interred as an unknown in the Neuville American Cemetery. In 2018, advances in forensic tools allowed DPAA analysts to identify SSG Politte's remains.

Staff Sergeant Politte is memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery in Impruneta, Italy.

https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt00000004pK6EAI

Vincent L Politte