T/Sgt. Sam Rossi (Radio Gunner) 321st Bomb Group, 445th Bomb Squadron, B-25 Mitchell #43-27792 Shot-Down over Target, Mission; RIMINI Troop Concentration, Italy.

321st BG History.

445th BS: Extracts from Missing Air Crew Report # 8779:

A/C No. 43-27792 “Cuddle Bunny” (MACR-8779 down in flames in Adriatic Sea) P

Richardson, John S., 1Lt – POW, returned

CP Corey, Robert (NMI), 2Lt – POW, returned N None B DiFulvio, Rudolph A. “Rudy” , 2Lt – went down with ship – KIA E Marinucci, Andrew J., S/Sgt – POW, returned R Rossi, Sam J., T/Sgt – POW, returned G Lemke, Leslie J., Sgt – POW, returned F Riley, William J., Jr., Cpl – POW, returned

A/C No. 43-27792 "Cuddle Bunny" (MACR-8779 down in flames in Adriatic Sea) P: Richardson, John S., 1Lt - POW, returned CP: Corey, Robert (NMI), 2Lt - POW, returned N: None B: DiFulvio, Rudolph A. "Rudy" , 2Lt - went down with ship - KIA E: Marinucci, Andrew J., S/Sgt - POW, returned R: Rossi, Sam J., T/Sgt - POW, returned G: Lemke, Leslie J., Sgt - POW, returned F: Riley, William J., Jr., Cpl - POW, returned

32761598 SAM J ROSSI T/SGT Sergeant ARMY Air Corps AC: AIR CORPS Date of Report; 18 Sept. 1944 ; Race, WHITE State of Residence New Jersey / 90 North African Theatre LATEST Report 16 Nov. 1944

Individual has been reported through sources considered official. Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated DETAINING POWER GERMANY CAMP Stalag Luft 4 Gross-Tychow (formerly Heydekrug) Pomerania, Prussia (moved to Wobbelin Bei Ludwigslust) (To Usedom Bei Savenmunde) 54-16

STALAG LUFT 4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StalagLuftIV

http://www.merkki.com/stalagluft4photos.htm

MIA sent to Mr Ferdinand Rossi, 5 Orchard St, Emerson, NJ

**19 September 1944
445th BS Mission Summary (Ops Order 558/mission 558) Group Mission # 558: The squadron sent 15 aircraft out to help bomb troop concentrations northwest of Rimini, Italy. They ran into a terrific flak barrage and one aircraft piloted by Lt. Richardson was lost over the target. Another piloted by Lt. Payne landed at Grosseto, Italy with one engine shot out. A third piloted by Lt. Moore landed at Ghisonaccia field with a punctured tire. Sgt. Sauer, radio gunner in Lt. Dyer's plane was wounded in the side by flak. Despite the many difficulties, the squadron's deadeye bombardiers achieved a 99.8 bombing accuracy for the mission.

A/C No. 43-27792 "Cuddle Bunny" (MACR-8779 shot down)
P: Richardson, John S., 1Lt
CP: Corey, Robert (NMI), 2Lt
N: None
B: DiFulvio, Rudolph A. "Rudy" , 2Lt
E: Marinucci, Andrew J., S/Sgt
R: Rossi, Sam J., T/Sgt
G: Lemke, Leslie J., Sgt,

F: Riley, William J., Jr., Cpl

A/C No. 43-27792 "Cuddle Bunny" (MACR-8779 down in flames in Adriatic Sea)
Richardson, John S., 1Lt - POW, returned
Corey, Robert (NMI), 2Lt - POW, returned
None
DiFulvio, Rudolph A. "Rudy" , 2Lt - went down with ship - KIA
Marinucci, Andrew J., S/Sgt - POW, returned
Rossi, Sam J., T/Sgt - POW, returned
Lemke, Leslie J., Sgt - POW, returned

Riley, William J., Jr., Cpl - POW, returned

Eyewitness Account: Chapman, John Edward, 1Lt, navigator, 446th BS

445th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF
321st Bombardment Group (M) AAF
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 650,
21 September 1944
AG-360.33 - Richardson, John S. (0) and crew.
SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report.

1. "I was the navigator in the bomber flying in the lead of the second flight of the formation which followed immediately behind the aircraft in question on the mission of 18 September 1944."
2. "While we were on the bomb run, I observed three parachutes to open below and to the left of our formation. After seeing the chutes, I looked for and found the bomber from which they had jumped. It was heading in a northerly direction toward the sea. The plane was burning but seemed to be under control. The flames appeared to be coming from the wings and not the fuselage but were too far away to be positive. It looked to me as though the parachutists would land behind enemy lines. I did not see the airplane crash nor did I see more than three chutes open."
Monday, 18 September 1944 (continued)

JOHN E. CHAPMAN,
1st Lt, 0-699134,
Navigator.
(Attachment to MAC Report,
Richardson, John S. (0) and crew,
B-25J, Aircraft 43-27792, 21 September 1994.

Incl 4.

Eyewitness Account: Parlette, Oliver C., T/Sgt, radio-gunner, 445th BS

445th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF
321st Bombardment Group (M) AAF
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 650,
21 September 1944
AG-360.33 - Richardson, John S. (0) and crew.
SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report.

1. "I was the radio-gunner of the aircraft in number two position of the same flight in which Lt. Richardson was flying. During the bomb run I was watching the concerned plane to see the bombs drop. There was a flak burst to the rear of our element at our altitude and another which seemed to burst just below Lt. Richardson's plane as the bombs were dropping from the bomb bay. There was a large orange flash followed by brown smoke which may have resulted from a direct flak hit in the falling bomb load. I judged it to be a flak burst because of its similarity to the first which burst behind our element. I observed the right landing gear to lower and the right engine aflame. The plane seemed to falter for about five seconds and then began to lose altitude, slowly at first and then more rapidly. I lost sight of the plane when we peeled off the bomb run. The tail gunner reported seeing one chute. I saw the parachutist at 6000 feet. The parachute opened about ten or fifteen seconds after the plane was hit. I regained sight of the aircraft and saw it hit the water just off the coast. Judging from my observations of the splash, the plane did not make a controlled landing. It appeared to me that the airplane came to the surface again and seemed to be in tact."
OLIVER C. PARLETTE,
T/Sgt., 11072713,
Radio-gunner.
(Attachment to MAC Report,
Richardson, John S. (0) and crew,
B-25J, Aircraft 43-27792, 21 September 1994.

Incl 5.

Monday, 18 September 1944 (continued)

Eyewitness Account: Yoa, Harry (NMI), S/Sgt, engineer-gunner, 445th BS

445th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF
321st Bombardment Group (M) AAF
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 650,
21 September 1944
AG-360.33 - Richardson, John S. (0) and crew.
SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report.

1. "I was the tail gunner of the aircraft in number two position, first element of the same flight in which Lt. Richardson was flying. On the bomb run, while the plane concerned had its bomb bay doors open, I observed the landing wheels to lower and could see that the right engine was aflame. The plane, apparently under control, began to lose altitude rapidly. It appeared as though the pilot headed his bomber toward the sea. I observed a parachute to open, which was probably from the rear of the crippled bomber, at approximately 7000 feet. The parachute drifted in the direction of the town of Gatteo. I did not see the plane hit the water but I saw the splash. We were too far away to observe whether the bomber was afloat."
HARRY (NMI) YOA,
S/Sgt., 14053361,
Engineer-Gunner.
(Attachment to MAC Report,
Richardson, John S. (0) and crew,
B-25J, Aircraft 43-27792, 21 September 1994.

Incl 6.

Eyewitness Account: Hickey, William R., S/Sgt, engineer-gunner, 445th BS

445th Bombardment Squadron (M) AAF
321st Bombardment Group (M) AAF
Office of the Operations Officer
APO 650,
21 September 1944
AG-360.33 - Richardson, John S. (0) and crew.
SUBJECT: Missing Air Crew Report.

1. "I was the tail gunner of the aircraft in number two position of the second element, flying directly in front of the aircraft concerned. While on the bomb run, I was looking directly at Lt. Richardson's plane to watch his bombs fall away. Just as the bombs were dropping from the bomb bay, there was a huge orange flash about five or ten feet below the bomb bay of the bomber. I believe this was due to an explosion of a frag
bomb because I did not observe any flak with the exception of a few bursts about a half mile or more ahead of the formation. The plane fell off to the left and began to descend rapidly but under control. I saw one chute come out and a few seconds later another. The plane turned to the right and began to head in the direction of the sea as it continued downward. When the plane dropped to approximately 300 feet above the sea, it nosed over into the water out of control about three-fourths of a mile off the coast."

WILLIAM R. HICKEY,
S/Sgt., 16169957
(Attachment to MAC Report,
Richardson, John S. (0) and crew,
B-25J, Aircraft 43-27792, 21 September 1994.**

Monday 19 September 1944 448th BS: War Diary of: Schaffer, Irving J., S/Sgt, radio-gunner: "Awoke 5:15AM. Briefing at 6:35AM. Sky 4/10 coverage. Target, troops and supplies northwest of Rimini. Pilot Lt Moyer (481) Takeoff 8:10. Over target 9:29. 100% hit. Flak - moderate inaccurate. P47 dive-bombers. 5/10 clouds. Very cold. Flew at 12,000 feet. One ship 445th went down - bombardier, DiFulvio. Hit over target. Three parachuted but were being fired upon by German ground forces. Eating early chow for another mission this PM. Briefing at 12:35PM. Same as this morning's target. Lt Swanson (668). Takeoff 1:45PM. Lead ship 2nd element. Turned back at coast of Italy. 10/10 at 10,000. Landed 3:10PM. Capt Neprash gave me another photo which is to be published. Feeling knocked out after knowing of Rudy's ultimate fate. Dreary day. Received 10 letters. Used K-8A for both missions. On 1st shift of guard. Comfortable evening. Prayed for Rudy. **Schaffner returned from Rome. Feeling blue. Retired 10:30PM."

DiFulvio, Rudolph A. "Rudy", 2Lt, bombardier, 445th BS
Moyer, Emerson C., 1Lt, pilot
Neprash, Sergius P., Capt, intelligence, HQ 321st BG
Schaffner, Clarence Donovan, T/Sgt, radio-gunner

Swanson, Erle G. "Swanny", Jr., 1Lt, pilot

Wednesday, 20 September 1944

448th BS: War Diary of: Schaffer, Irving J., S/Sgt, radio-gunner:
"CQ blowing whistle 5:15AM. Briefing 6:00AM. Slight rain. Carrying 1000 lb GP's. Railroad bridge 50 miles northwest of Valero at Citta Della, Italy. Steel runway mats coming in. Boys are repairing club. Spamburgers, carrots and onion, canned tomatoes, applesauce, bread, butter, coffee. Very heavy rain. Rain ceased 3:30PM. New roof being put on club. Went to see Smitty and Taylor. Frag exploded causing Rudy's ship to go down. B26 outfit claims they saw 6 chutes open. Flak missed Taylor's head and his radio-gunner was put out of commission with a slug in his right side. (7 on lead ship). Rudy's wife to have baby next week.** **Retired 8:50PM.?"

DiFulvio, Rudolph A. "Rudy", 2Lt, bombardier, 445th BS (Bombardier, KIA)**

Barbi Ennis Connolly, 321st BG Historian PRINCESSBARBI_B25@msn.com I place sites on our WWII "Boys" as a service to the Vets and their families and to Honor my own Dad/447thBS Edward C Ennis.

Sam J Rossi