SGT. Salvatore Anthony "TONY" Carvell

WW II VETERAN
Aerial Gunner with the with the 12th Air Force; 57th Bombardment Wing; 310th Bombardment Group; 380th Bombardment Squadron; stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO).

His plane, B-25; Serial No. 43-4042; MACR: 6089; was Shot Down by Flak, on 22 June 1944, over Leghorn Harbor, Italy.

Although Wounded, Tony was able to bail out, but landed in the water, and had to swim to shore, where he was picked up by the Germans, and held as a Prisoner Of War. Three of the Six crew members were Killed in Action.

380th BS Mission Report No. 271:
22 June 1944
Target: Leghorn Harbor
Our planes gave an excellent account of themselves today as several vessels in the Leghorn Harbor were sunk, but a dear price was paid for the damage sustained when two of our air craft were shot down by flak. Only one man was saved from the two crews. The flak at the target was heavy, intense, and very accurate. One of our aircraft returned to base.

B-25; Serial No. 43-4018; MACR: 6090
P: Peterson, Frank (NMI), 1LT-KIA
CP: Lightsey, John Herman, Jr., 1LT-KIA
B: Hunt, Joe H.; SSGT-KIA
R: Morgan, William C., SGGT-KIA
G: Ptach, Albert A., SGT-KIA
TG: Pizzimenti, Thomas J., SGT-KIA

B-25; Serial No. 43-4042; MACR: 6089
P: Quitta, James V., 1LT-KIA
CP: Helgeson, William B., 2LT-LWA-Survived; Rescued
B: Slagle, Robert E., 2LT-KIA
R: Vest, John E., SSGT~MIA-POW-RTD
G: Carvell, Salvatore Anthony, "Tony", SGT-MIA-POW-RTD
TG: Watkins, William F., SGT-KIA

ADDITIONAL:
Lt. Quitta's aircraft received a direct flak hit over the target in the bomb bay section which set the oil system of the right engine on fire and caused other heavy damage to the aircraft. One crew member, possibly the tail gunner, SGT. W.F. Watkins, was believed to have bailed out over the target but no further news on him has been heard. Believing it possible to return the ship to base, Lt. Quitta returned the burning aircraft to within twenty miles of Corsica. Here the plane blew up just as Lt. Quitta gave the orders to abandon ship. Lt. Helgeson was picked up by Air Sea Rescue after he had parachuted down, but sustained a broken leg and other injuries in leaving the plane. Lt. Quitta's body was taken from the sea, dead from drowning, but with a broken leg, broken nose, and other injuries; The bombadier, Lt. R.E. Slagle and the turret gunner, Sgt. S.A. Carvell are known to have gone down with the aircraft.

Lt. Peterson's aircraft received a direct hit in the right wing over the target from flak which set fire to the right engine. This fire soon covered the entire right side of the plane, and the plane went flaming into the sea. One parachute was reported seen coming from this plane, but no further information is available on this crew.
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THE WAR DEPARTMENT ORIGINALLY NOTIFIED HIS FAMILY THAT TONY HAD BEEN KILLED IN ACTION. IT WAS TWO LONG MONTHS OF GRIEVING BEFORE THEY RECEIVED THE JOYOUS NEWS THAT HE WAS ALIVE. HE WAS A PRISONER OF WAR OF THE GERMANS, BUT HE WAS ALIVE.
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The St. Augustine Record
St. Augustine, Florida
Monday, June 13, 2005

S. Anthony Carvell

S. Anthony "Tony" Carvell, 90, of St. Augustine, Fla., died June 10, 2005 at Flagler Hospital. He was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., and had resided in St. Augustine since 1976, moving here from Troy, N.Y. Tony was a graduate of Brooklyn Prep, where he played football and was also a member of the Greek Club. Upon graduating from Brooklyn Prep, he attended Fordham University and New York University, majoring in theater and journalism respectively.

Tony later enlisted in the Army Air Corps and served during World War II. He was a tail gunner on the B-25 bomber. He was shot down over occupied Italy, in the Legorian Sea during his 16th mission. He was captured while swimming and was held as a POW for 19 months in Stalag Luft III. He was liberated in January of 1945. Prior to his liberation, he was on a death march from Dresden to Nuremberg. After his liberation he was sent to England and later to Colorado for rehabilitation. While in rehabilitation at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Hospital in Colorado, he started a radio station for Lowry Air Force Base. Tony received numerous commendations including the Bronze Star, Air Medal, Prisoner of War Medal and he was the recipient of the Purple Heart.

After he was discharged, Tony began his career in journalism. His first radio broadcast job was in Presqueisle, Maine, in 1946. From 1948-1967 Tony worked at the NBC affiliate WRGB as well as their sister radio station WGY in Schenectady, N.Y. He was a broadcaster, writer and the president of the Announcers Union. In 1967, Tony was employed at Rensslaer Polytechnic Institute in the media relations group at RPI until his retirement in 1976.

He was a member of the D.A.V., the St. Augustine Navy League, St. Augustine Shores Men's Golf Association, Riverview Dance Club, Grasshoppers, American Ex-Prisoners of War and the Caterpillar Club. He was a member of St. Anastasia Catholic Church.

Funeral mass will be held 9 a.m. Tuesday June 14, 2005 at St. Anastasia Catholic Church. Interment will be held at Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery in Schenectady, N.Y. Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at St. Anastasia Catholic Church. Flowers are gratefully declined and those wishing, may make a contribution in his memory to Community Hospice of NE Florida, 4266 Sunbeam Road, Jacksonville, FL 32257

He was preceded in death by his first wife Patricia J. Carvell in 1975.

He is survived by his loving wife of 21 years, Ruth Dugan Carvell, St. Augustine; daughter, Debbie Levandosky and her husband Bill, Milton, Vt.; son, Christopher A. Carvell and his wife Beth; grandson Milan Carvell, all of Denver, Colo.; sister, Germaine Benanti; nephews, Joseph Benanti, Phillip Benanti, niece, GiGi Benanti, all of Norwalk, Conn.

He is also survived by his stepchildren, Don Dugan and his wife Mary, of Massachusetts; Ron Dugan and his wife Lee, of Connecticut; Bruce Dugan and his wife Kathy, of New Jersey; Timothy Dugan and his wife Gayle, Long Island; 11 step-grandchildren, Chris, Jamie, and Nikki Dugan, Jen and Greg Colonese, Matthew, Timothy, Brian, Kyle, Ryan, Jennifer Dugan; and three step-great grandchildren, Gavin and Jack Colonese, and Ian Dugan.

Kotrady-Hudgins-CroyleFuneral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Salvatore A Carvell