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| Jerry Zeoli, WWII |
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| Current Address: |
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2820 SW 15th St. (B5-202), Delray Beach, FL 33445 |
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| Email: |
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| Family Information: |
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Parents: Louise and Joseph; Stepfather: Vincent; Wife: Velia; Children: Patricia, Joseph, Gerald |
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| Hometown: |
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Providence, RI |
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| Date Entered Service: |
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February 4, 1944 |
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| Service Number: |
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31464460 |
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| Bomb Group: |
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468th Bomb Group |
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| Squadron: |
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794th Bomb Squadron |
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| Location of Unit: |
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Tinian; May 1945 |
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| Missions Flown: |
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16 and 2 aborts |
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| Hump Missions Flown: |
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| Targets: |
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Osaka, Omuta, Kure, Okayama, Chiba, Sendai, Namazu, Fukui, Kawanishi, Aomori, Hirosaki, Hachiogi, Fukuyama, Hikari, others |
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| Awards/Decorations: |
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Air Offensive Japan, Eastern Mandates, Western Pacific Campaign, Air Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Asiatic-Pacific Service Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, American Theater Service Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Battle Stars (4), AAF Air Crew Member Badge (Wings), Carbine, Pistol |
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| Service Schools Attended: |
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Basic-Keesler Field, Biloxi, MS 1944; Gunnery-Buckingham Field-Ft. Myers, FL 1944; Davis Monthan Field, Tucson, AZ 1944 |
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| Military Specialty(ies): |
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MOS 611-Aerial Gunner |
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| Rank Upon Discharge: |
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Sgt. |
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| Crew Type: |
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Flight crew |
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| Airplane Serial No.& Name: |
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42-65275 Hi Stepper, 42-24734 Miss Lead, 42-65227 Lady Be Good, 44-69660 My Gal Sal, 42-24486 Windy City II |
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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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February 6, 1946 |
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| Post-WWII Military Service: |
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None |
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| Post-WWII Civilian Occupation(s): |
| Earned AB degree in Political Science from Brown University. Earned Masters degree in Education from Rhode Island College. From 1955-1993 taught Social Studies and Math (Algebra) at Moses Brown Prep School. Also Athletic Director, Coach of Football, Basketball, Wrestling, Track and Baseball. |
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| Thoughts on the 58th Bomb Wing: |
| It was an experience in which I learned a great deal considering the circumstances and conditions. I was an 18 year old with little if any outside experience. Most of all, I learned how others in my outfit lived, felt and worked. It did give me a sense of belonging, purpose, and discipline. I did grow up fast and it did carry over into my association in college and later as a teacher/coach in a prep school. |
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| Comments: |
| Our crew flew overseas from San Francisco to the Marianas with a new B-29 plane which our pilot, Paul Shernisky, had named "Weirite" after his town in West Virginia. This new B-29 was taken away from our crew and given to another crew. Most of our missions over Japan were flown in the "Hi Stepper" that had been assigned to our crew. We did fly some missions in other B-29's such as Miss Lead, Lady Be Good, My Gal Sal and Windy City II.
We had a good crew and I enjoyed being with them. I was 18 years old and left a widowed mother, sister and grandmother at home to do my part in WWII. Proud to have served with the 20th Air Force.
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| Jerry Zeoli, 1947 |
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| Jerry Zeoli, c. 2001 |
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