Staff Sergeant Emil John "Jack" Di Trapani, born 30 Dec 1920, was the son of Mario and Amelia (Zito) Di Trapani of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California. His father was born in Trapani, Sicily, Italy and emigrated in 1909. Trapani is on the extreme western tip of Sicily 57 miles west of Palermo.
In the 1930 census 9-year-old Jack is living with his parents and siblings Eleanor 13, and Bobby 5, at 1157 E 20th Street in Long Beach.
In the 1940 census 19-year-old Jack is living with his parents and siblings Eleanor 23, and Bob 15, still at 1157 E 20th Street in Long Beach. His father is the manager of a retail grocery and liquor store.
In the 1943 Long Beach city directory 22-year-old Jack is listed as a clerk residing at 1157 E 20th Street but was probably already in the Army Air Force. He was assigned to the 571st Bomb Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group flying B-127s out of Framlingham Airfield 89 miles northeast of London.
John was ball turret gunner on B-17 42-107070 "North Star" piloted by 1st Lt Lawrence Gregor. The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for California show Di Trapani, John E, S/Sgt from Los Angeles County as killed in action 7 Jul 1944. Jack's plane collided in mid-air with another B-17 over Hoorn, Holland. Only the Co-Pilot, Lt James Wicker, and Right Waist Gunner, Sgt Clyde Matlock, survived and were taken prisoner. Hoorn is 23 mi NNE of Amsterdam.
MACR 7368: At 0804 hours at 5238N-0455E, A/C 070 was rammed by A/C 983, as a result A/C 070 dropping back when caught in prop wash. A/C 983 lost props and #2 engine, fire starting in left wing spreading to A/C 070 which was meshed together with A/C 983. A/C parted at 10,000 feet spinning and disentegrating, both exploding before hitting the ground. 7 chutes were reported and one crew reported three additional chutes, burning as they left the airplane. It is impossible to determine the number of chutes origination from each aircraft. A memorial for the downed air crews was placed at Hoorn, Holland.
In the 1930 census 9-year-old Jack is living with his parents and siblings Eleanor 13, and Bobby 5, at 1157 E 20th Street in Long Beach.
In the 1940 census 19-year-old Jack is living with his parents and siblings Eleanor 23, and Bob 15, still at 1157 E 20th Street in Long Beach. His father is the manager of a retail grocery and liquor store.
In the 1943 Long Beach city directory 22-year-old Jack is listed as a clerk residing at 1157 E 20th Street but was probably already in the Army Air Force. He was assigned to the 571st Bomb Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group flying B-127s out of Framlingham Airfield 89 miles northeast of London.
John was ball turret gunner on B-17 42-107070 "North Star" piloted by 1st Lt Lawrence Gregor. The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for California show Di Trapani, John E, S/Sgt from Los Angeles County as killed in action 7 Jul 1944. Jack's plane collided in mid-air with another B-17 over Hoorn, Holland. Only the Co-Pilot, Lt James Wicker, and Right Waist Gunner, Sgt Clyde Matlock, survived and were taken prisoner. Hoorn is 23 mi NNE of Amsterdam.
MACR 7368: At 0804 hours at 5238N-0455E, A/C 070 was rammed by A/C 983, as a result A/C 070 dropping back when caught in prop wash. A/C 983 lost props and #2 engine, fire starting in left wing spreading to A/C 070 which was meshed together with A/C 983. A/C parted at 10,000 feet spinning and disentegrating, both exploding before hitting the ground. 7 chutes were reported and one crew reported three additional chutes, burning as they left the airplane. It is impossible to determine the number of chutes origination from each aircraft. A memorial for the downed air crews was placed at Hoorn, Holland.
Staff Sergeant Emil John "Jack" Di Trapani, born 30 Dec 1920, was the son of Mario and Amelia (Zito) Di Trapani of Long Beach, Los Angeles County, California. His father was born in Trapani, Sicily, Italy and emigrated in 1909. Trapani is on the extreme western tip of Sicily 57 miles west of Palermo.
In the 1930 census 9-year-old Jack is living with his parents and siblings Eleanor 13, and Bobby 5, at 1157 E 20th Street in Long Beach.
In the 1940 census 19-year-old Jack is living with his parents and siblings Eleanor 23, and Bob 15, still at 1157 E 20th Street in Long Beach. His father is the manager of a retail grocery and liquor store.
In the 1943 Long Beach city directory 22-year-old Jack is listed as a clerk residing at 1157 E 20th Street but was probably already in the Army Air Force. He was assigned to the 571st Bomb Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group flying B-127s out of Framlingham Airfield 89 miles northeast of London.
John was ball turret gunner on B-17 42-107070 "North Star" piloted by 1st Lt Lawrence Gregor. The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for California show Di Trapani, John E, S/Sgt from Los Angeles County as killed in action 7 Jul 1944. Jack's plane collided in mid-air with another B-17 over Hoorn, Holland. Only the Co-Pilot, Lt James Wicker, and Right Waist Gunner, Sgt Clyde Matlock, survived and were taken prisoner. Hoorn is 23 mi NNE of Amsterdam.
MACR 7368: At 0804 hours at 5238N-0455E, A/C 070 was rammed by A/C 983, as a result A/C 070 dropping back when caught in prop wash. A/C 983 lost props and #2 engine, fire starting in left wing spreading to A/C 070 which was meshed together with A/C 983. A/C parted at 10,000 feet spinning and disentegrating, both exploding before hitting the ground. 7 chutes were reported and one crew reported three additional chutes, burning as they left the airplane. It is impossible to determine the number of chutes origination from each aircraft. A memorial for the downed air crews was placed at Hoorn, Holland.
In the 1930 census 9-year-old Jack is living with his parents and siblings Eleanor 13, and Bobby 5, at 1157 E 20th Street in Long Beach.
In the 1940 census 19-year-old Jack is living with his parents and siblings Eleanor 23, and Bob 15, still at 1157 E 20th Street in Long Beach. His father is the manager of a retail grocery and liquor store.
In the 1943 Long Beach city directory 22-year-old Jack is listed as a clerk residing at 1157 E 20th Street but was probably already in the Army Air Force. He was assigned to the 571st Bomb Squadron of the 390th Bomb Group flying B-127s out of Framlingham Airfield 89 miles northeast of London.
John was ball turret gunner on B-17 42-107070 "North Star" piloted by 1st Lt Lawrence Gregor. The NARA WWII casualty listings by state and county for California show Di Trapani, John E, S/Sgt from Los Angeles County as killed in action 7 Jul 1944. Jack's plane collided in mid-air with another B-17 over Hoorn, Holland. Only the Co-Pilot, Lt James Wicker, and Right Waist Gunner, Sgt Clyde Matlock, survived and were taken prisoner. Hoorn is 23 mi NNE of Amsterdam.
MACR 7368: At 0804 hours at 5238N-0455E, A/C 070 was rammed by A/C 983, as a result A/C 070 dropping back when caught in prop wash. A/C 983 lost props and #2 engine, fire starting in left wing spreading to A/C 070 which was meshed together with A/C 983. A/C parted at 10,000 feet spinning and disentegrating, both exploding before hitting the ground. 7 chutes were reported and one crew reported three additional chutes, burning as they left the airplane. It is impossible to determine the number of chutes origination from each aircraft. A memorial for the downed air crews was placed at Hoorn, Holland.
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Entered the service from California.
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