SSGTT. Alfred John DeBernardis was a Bombardier with the 12th Air Force; 57th Bombardment Wing; 310th Bombardment Group; 379th Bombardment Squadron; stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO).

His Hometown was Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania.

Friday, 21 May 1943
379th BS Mission Summary: (Ops Order ---/mission ---) Group Mission # 94: So with a very quick briefing and preparation 24 planes of the group were up and winging their way toward Villacidro A/D in Sardinia. The results were very good with 10 to 15 E/A parked in the NE corner well covered. Intense heavy flak was encountered over the target and the formation returned minus two crews. Lt. McCormick of the 380th was hit by flak over the target and exploded in mid-air. The 379th was also very unfortunate, for Lt. G. C. Beachum’s ship met a similar fate. Our new Sq. Commanding Officer, Capt. Heston C. Daniel, after having recently attained his ambition, was among those lost. Those observing the unfortunate incident say that the right wing was shot off and the ship spun to earth. Although three parachutes were seen to open, it is undetermined as to who was able to leave the doomed plane. Some think that two of the chutes might have been S/Sgts. Dalmaso and Gower, gunner and radio-man respectively, of Lt. J. D. Lindh’s crew. These two men bailed out over the target evidently thinking their ship had been hit because of the violent evasive action their pilot had to employ. The entire personnel of the squadron grieve the loss of Lt. G.C. Beachum and his crew, also Capt. Heston C. Daniel’s mis-fortune, for he was very well liked and respected.

A/C No. 5 aircraft unidentified (MACR-16512 - shot down over target by AAA)
P Beachum, Graham C., 2Lt; POW
CP Smith, Donald M., 1Lt' KIA
N None
B DeBernardis, Alfred J., S/Sgt; POW
E None
R Mencer, William Orwin, S/Sgt; KIA
G Kitzerow, Lester Arthur, S/Sgt; KIA
F Daniel, Heston C., Capt, Commander (observer); POW

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POW RECORD
SERIAL NUMBER 33117760 33117760
NAME DE BERNARDIS A J DE BERNARDIS A J
GRADE, ALPHA S SG Staff Sergeant
GRADE CODE 4 Major or Asst. superintendent of nurses or Director of nurses or Director of dietitians or Director of physical therapy aides or Staff Sergeant or Technician 3d Grade or Lt. Commander or Petty Officer, 2nd Class
SERVICE CODE 1 ARMY
ARM OR SERVICE AC Air Corps
ARM OR SERVICE CODE 20 AC: AIR CORPS
DATE REPORT: DAY (DD) 21 21
DATE REPORT: MONTH (MM) 05 05
DATE REPORT: YEAR (Y) 3 1943
RACIAL GROUP CODE 1 WHITE
STATE OF RESIDENCE 32 Pennsylvania
TYPE OF ORGANIZATION 216 Bombardment, Medium
PARENT UNIT NUMBER 0310 0310
PARENT UNIT TYPE 06 Group/Regiment/Commands/System
AREA 98 North African Theatre: Italy
LATEST REPORT DATE: DAY (DD) 26 26
LATEST REPORT DATE: MONTH (MM) 05 05
LATEST REPORT DATE: YEAR (Y) 5 1945
SOURCE OF REPORT 1 Individual has been reported through sources considered official.
STATUS 8 Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated
DETAINING POWER 1 GERMANY
CAMP 025 Stalag 17B Braunau Gneikendorf Near Krems Austria 48-15
REP
POW TRANSPORT SHIPS

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http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp/bib/loc.natlib.afc2001001.103510
Alfred John DeBernardis Collection
Biographical Information

Name: Alfred John DeBernardis
State of Birth: PA
Home State: MD
Gender Male
Race Unspecified
War or Conflict World War, 1939-1945
Military Status Veteran
Dates of Service 1941-1945
Entrance into Service Drafted
Branch of Service Army Air Forces/Corps
Unit of Service 379th Bomb Squadron, 310th Bomb Group
Location of Service New Cumberland, Pennsylvania; Biloxi, Mississippi; Santa Monica, California; Columbia, South Carolina; Scotland; England; North Africa; Morocco; Algeria; European Theater; Stalag VII-A, Germany; Stalag XII-B, Germany; Austria

Highest Rank Technical Sergeant
Prisoner of War Yes
Service History Note The veteran served as a B-25 bombardier.
Collection Information

Type of Resource: Video: DVD [1 item] --Oral history interview
Interviewer: Joan Guberman
Contributor: Joan Guberman
Contributor Affiliation/Organization: Leisure World
Collection #: AFC/2001/001/103510
Subjects: DeBernardis, Alfred John
World War, 1939-1945--Personal Narratives
United States. Army Air Forces/Corps.
Prisoner of War--United States
Cite as: Alfred John DeBernardis Collection
(AFC/2001/001/103510), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

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ALFRED JOHN DeBERNARDIS
(Age 96)

On Saturday, April 30, 2016, of Silver Spring, Maryland, with his loved ones near. Al''s cherished wife, Elsie, predeceased him in 2002. He is survived by his children, Robert (Sue), Kathy Powell (Corky), Steve (Jennifer), and Teresa Carey (Glenn), as well as, 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. Al also leaves behind a niece, Jamie Lenoci (Len) and her family, as well as, a host of other nephews, nieces and his beloved companion of 11 years, Ethel Lagos. Born in Altoona, PA on April 24, 1920 to Giovanni and Theresa DeBernardis, he attended Altoona High School and served in the Army Air Corps as a bomber in World War II, where he was shot down and became a prisoner of war in Stalag 17 for two years before being liberated. He was a member of the Caterpillar Club and received a Purple Heart and many other honors for his service. On his return to Pennsylvania, he married Elsie Stefanini and they enjoyed 56 years of devoted marriage until her death. In life, he was a lover of family, food, dancing, and an avid bowler and golfer. In his work career, Al owned a number of successful food businesses before his early retirement. Family will receive friends Wednesday, May 4 for a viewing at 10 a.m., followed by Mass at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, 15661 Norbeck Blvd., Silver Spring, MD, and interment at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 13801 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Montgomery Hospice, 1355 Piccard Drive, Suite 100, Rockville, MD 20850.