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| Ralph Gambardella - India |
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| Current Address: |
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29 Penn St., Hamden, CT 06514
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| Email: |
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: Louis and Josephine; Wife: Adeline; Sons: Ronald and Dr. Ralph; Siblings: Phyllis and Albert.
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| Hometown: |
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Hamden, CT |
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| Date Entered Service: |
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January 19 1942 |
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| Service Number: |
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11044867
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| Bomb Group: |
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468th |
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| Squadron: |
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793rd |
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| Location of Unit: |
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Kharagpur, India - April 1944 |
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| Missions Flown: |
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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Four - ground crew maintenance - China
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| Targets: |
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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Magneto Course, Sidney, NY 1942
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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MOS 685-Airplane Electrical Mechanic, Specialist
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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Staff Sergeant |
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| Crew Type: |
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Ground crew |
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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| Were you a POW? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Were you interned? |
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No |
| If so, where? |
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| Date Transferred from the 58th: |
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| Date Discharged from the 58th: |
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October 15 1945 |
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
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Auto Body and Radiator Repair -- Refrigeration Repairman -- Southern New England Telephone Company
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
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I enlisted on January 19, 1942, to get into the Air Corps to learn to help maintain airplanes. I never had any prior experience with aircraft, but as a sheet metal worker and welding as my trade, I was able to use my knowledge. My first assignment was to weld a gas tank for a single engine observation aircraft. Later I was in charge of a sheet metal department. My superior sent me to magneto school to prepare to work on B-29s, at that time a very new ship all electronically controlled. Being stationed in Kharagpur, India, was quite an experience. Worked hard during modifications to make the aircraft what it proved to be. My greatest thrill was to see a B-29 flying back from a mission, able to land with four feathered props because of lack of gas. Unbelievable. Tinian Island was our next move. I was so proud of our B-29s and they proved themselves when they were able to end the war. Great memories, nice guys!
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| Comments: |
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(During service name was Raffaele Gambardella.)
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Ralph Gambardella - India
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| Ralph Gambardella - 2000 |
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