Sgt. OSCAR C. GALLEGOS
Right Waist Gunner
12/02/1923 ~ 12/04/2002
Born in Jerome, AZ on 12-2-23 to Pedro and Elvira Gallegos, Oscar attended schools in Superior, Hayden, and Phoenix, AZ. He joined the Conservation Corps at the age of sixteen.
Prior to enlisting in the Army Air Forces in September of 1942, Oscar worked briefly at the St. Anthony's Copper Mine in Tiger, AZ. He met his future wife Angelita (Lilly) Vargas during this time. Their courtship began, and eventually Oscar was assigned to the Air Corps where he was sent to gunnery and radio operator schools.
He was sent to Bury St. Edmonds, Sulffolk County, England in November 1943 and flew 13 successful missions as a right waist gunner on the B-17 "Patches".
His plane was shot down during his 14th mission over Brunswick, Germany on January 11, 1944. Their target was the Focke Wulf 190 assembly plant.
Sixty bombers were lost on this bombing mission including eight bombers from the 94th bomb group to which his squadron, the 331st, belonged. This mission was second in losses only to the infamous August 17, 1943 Schweinfurt mission.
Most of the crew parachuted to safety but were captured and interned as POW's at Stalag 17B in Krems, Austria. Oscar was interned 15 months until liberated by allied forces May 1945.
After the war, Oscar settled his family in Sacramento, CA, where he worked for and retired from the United States Post Office, Aerojet General, and University of California at Davis. He served in the National Guard as a reservist.
Oscar later attended the Lincoln Law School and applied for the Junior Bar. Oscar was active in the Mexican-American Political Association and helped start the Sacramento Chapter.
He enjoyed the Sierras and family outings and camping trips to Wrights Lake, Donner, and Lake Tahoe. He is survived by his wife of 57 years and their five children: Peter Gallegos, Lena Brigner, Oscar Gallegos, Amanda Wilson, Jimmy Gallegos, and two special nieces: Artemisa Perez and Lydia Carrillo. Also survived by daughter-in-laws: Adeline Macias, Terry Gallegos, Janet Pease, and Amy Gallegos. Son-in-laws: Fred Brigner and Gary Wilson. His grand-children include: Gregory Bee, Barbara Gallegos, Tisha Bee, Joseph Gallegos, Joshua Rhinehart (wife Jennifer), Jason Bee (fiancee Natalie), Isaiah Gallegos, Matthew Gallegos, Amy Burke, Jaclyn Wilson, Jamie Gallegos, Royce Gallegos, Olivia Gallegos, and Andrew Gallegos. Great-grandchildren include: Jackson Rhinehart, Jefferson Rhinehart, and Matthew Gallegos Jr. His immediate family also includes, brother, Armando Gallegos (wife Catalina), sisters: Yolanda Gallegos, Ida Perez, (husband Sandy), Ruth Martinez, Brothers and sisters-in-laws: Jimmy Vargas, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Vargas, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Molina, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gonzales and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial Services to be held at the West Sacramento Post 8672, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 905 Drever Street, West Sacramento on December 12, 2002 from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM. Please join family and friends for a celebration of Oscar's life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make contributions to the Sacramento SPCA or the Children's Receiving Home.
(Obituary published in The Sacramento Bee from December 11 to December 12, 2002)
Right Waist Gunner
12/02/1923 ~ 12/04/2002
Born in Jerome, AZ on 12-2-23 to Pedro and Elvira Gallegos, Oscar attended schools in Superior, Hayden, and Phoenix, AZ. He joined the Conservation Corps at the age of sixteen.
Prior to enlisting in the Army Air Forces in September of 1942, Oscar worked briefly at the St. Anthony's Copper Mine in Tiger, AZ. He met his future wife Angelita (Lilly) Vargas during this time. Their courtship began, and eventually Oscar was assigned to the Air Corps where he was sent to gunnery and radio operator schools.
He was sent to Bury St. Edmonds, Sulffolk County, England in November 1943 and flew 13 successful missions as a right waist gunner on the B-17 "Patches".
His plane was shot down during his 14th mission over Brunswick, Germany on January 11, 1944. Their target was the Focke Wulf 190 assembly plant.
Sixty bombers were lost on this bombing mission including eight bombers from the 94th bomb group to which his squadron, the 331st, belonged. This mission was second in losses only to the infamous August 17, 1943 Schweinfurt mission.
Most of the crew parachuted to safety but were captured and interned as POW's at Stalag 17B in Krems, Austria. Oscar was interned 15 months until liberated by allied forces May 1945.
After the war, Oscar settled his family in Sacramento, CA, where he worked for and retired from the United States Post Office, Aerojet General, and University of California at Davis. He served in the National Guard as a reservist.
Oscar later attended the Lincoln Law School and applied for the Junior Bar. Oscar was active in the Mexican-American Political Association and helped start the Sacramento Chapter.
He enjoyed the Sierras and family outings and camping trips to Wrights Lake, Donner, and Lake Tahoe. He is survived by his wife of 57 years and their five children: Peter Gallegos, Lena Brigner, Oscar Gallegos, Amanda Wilson, Jimmy Gallegos, and two special nieces: Artemisa Perez and Lydia Carrillo. Also survived by daughter-in-laws: Adeline Macias, Terry Gallegos, Janet Pease, and Amy Gallegos. Son-in-laws: Fred Brigner and Gary Wilson. His grand-children include: Gregory Bee, Barbara Gallegos, Tisha Bee, Joseph Gallegos, Joshua Rhinehart (wife Jennifer), Jason Bee (fiancee Natalie), Isaiah Gallegos, Matthew Gallegos, Amy Burke, Jaclyn Wilson, Jamie Gallegos, Royce Gallegos, Olivia Gallegos, and Andrew Gallegos. Great-grandchildren include: Jackson Rhinehart, Jefferson Rhinehart, and Matthew Gallegos Jr. His immediate family also includes, brother, Armando Gallegos (wife Catalina), sisters: Yolanda Gallegos, Ida Perez, (husband Sandy), Ruth Martinez, Brothers and sisters-in-laws: Jimmy Vargas, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Vargas, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Molina, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gonzales and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial Services to be held at the West Sacramento Post 8672, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 905 Drever Street, West Sacramento on December 12, 2002 from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM. Please join family and friends for a celebration of Oscar's life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make contributions to the Sacramento SPCA or the Children's Receiving Home.
(Obituary published in The Sacramento Bee from December 11 to December 12, 2002)
Sgt. OSCAR C. GALLEGOS
Right Waist Gunner
12/02/1923 ~ 12/04/2002
Born in Jerome, AZ on 12-2-23 to Pedro and Elvira Gallegos, Oscar attended schools in Superior, Hayden, and Phoenix, AZ. He joined the Conservation Corps at the age of sixteen.
Prior to enlisting in the Army Air Forces in September of 1942, Oscar worked briefly at the St. Anthony's Copper Mine in Tiger, AZ. He met his future wife Angelita (Lilly) Vargas during this time. Their courtship began, and eventually Oscar was assigned to the Air Corps where he was sent to gunnery and radio operator schools.
He was sent to Bury St. Edmonds, Sulffolk County, England in November 1943 and flew 13 successful missions as a right waist gunner on the B-17 "Patches".
His plane was shot down during his 14th mission over Brunswick, Germany on January 11, 1944. Their target was the Focke Wulf 190 assembly plant.
Sixty bombers were lost on this bombing mission including eight bombers from the 94th bomb group to which his squadron, the 331st, belonged. This mission was second in losses only to the infamous August 17, 1943 Schweinfurt mission.
Most of the crew parachuted to safety but were captured and interned as POW's at Stalag 17B in Krems, Austria. Oscar was interned 15 months until liberated by allied forces May 1945.
After the war, Oscar settled his family in Sacramento, CA, where he worked for and retired from the United States Post Office, Aerojet General, and University of California at Davis. He served in the National Guard as a reservist.
Oscar later attended the Lincoln Law School and applied for the Junior Bar. Oscar was active in the Mexican-American Political Association and helped start the Sacramento Chapter.
He enjoyed the Sierras and family outings and camping trips to Wrights Lake, Donner, and Lake Tahoe. He is survived by his wife of 57 years and their five children: Peter Gallegos, Lena Brigner, Oscar Gallegos, Amanda Wilson, Jimmy Gallegos, and two special nieces: Artemisa Perez and Lydia Carrillo. Also survived by daughter-in-laws: Adeline Macias, Terry Gallegos, Janet Pease, and Amy Gallegos. Son-in-laws: Fred Brigner and Gary Wilson. His grand-children include: Gregory Bee, Barbara Gallegos, Tisha Bee, Joseph Gallegos, Joshua Rhinehart (wife Jennifer), Jason Bee (fiancee Natalie), Isaiah Gallegos, Matthew Gallegos, Amy Burke, Jaclyn Wilson, Jamie Gallegos, Royce Gallegos, Olivia Gallegos, and Andrew Gallegos. Great-grandchildren include: Jackson Rhinehart, Jefferson Rhinehart, and Matthew Gallegos Jr. His immediate family also includes, brother, Armando Gallegos (wife Catalina), sisters: Yolanda Gallegos, Ida Perez, (husband Sandy), Ruth Martinez, Brothers and sisters-in-laws: Jimmy Vargas, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Vargas, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Molina, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gonzales and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial Services to be held at the West Sacramento Post 8672, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 905 Drever Street, West Sacramento on December 12, 2002 from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM. Please join family and friends for a celebration of Oscar's life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make contributions to the Sacramento SPCA or the Children's Receiving Home.
(Obituary published in The Sacramento Bee from December 11 to December 12, 2002)
Right Waist Gunner
12/02/1923 ~ 12/04/2002
Born in Jerome, AZ on 12-2-23 to Pedro and Elvira Gallegos, Oscar attended schools in Superior, Hayden, and Phoenix, AZ. He joined the Conservation Corps at the age of sixteen.
Prior to enlisting in the Army Air Forces in September of 1942, Oscar worked briefly at the St. Anthony's Copper Mine in Tiger, AZ. He met his future wife Angelita (Lilly) Vargas during this time. Their courtship began, and eventually Oscar was assigned to the Air Corps where he was sent to gunnery and radio operator schools.
He was sent to Bury St. Edmonds, Sulffolk County, England in November 1943 and flew 13 successful missions as a right waist gunner on the B-17 "Patches".
His plane was shot down during his 14th mission over Brunswick, Germany on January 11, 1944. Their target was the Focke Wulf 190 assembly plant.
Sixty bombers were lost on this bombing mission including eight bombers from the 94th bomb group to which his squadron, the 331st, belonged. This mission was second in losses only to the infamous August 17, 1943 Schweinfurt mission.
Most of the crew parachuted to safety but were captured and interned as POW's at Stalag 17B in Krems, Austria. Oscar was interned 15 months until liberated by allied forces May 1945.
After the war, Oscar settled his family in Sacramento, CA, where he worked for and retired from the United States Post Office, Aerojet General, and University of California at Davis. He served in the National Guard as a reservist.
Oscar later attended the Lincoln Law School and applied for the Junior Bar. Oscar was active in the Mexican-American Political Association and helped start the Sacramento Chapter.
He enjoyed the Sierras and family outings and camping trips to Wrights Lake, Donner, and Lake Tahoe. He is survived by his wife of 57 years and their five children: Peter Gallegos, Lena Brigner, Oscar Gallegos, Amanda Wilson, Jimmy Gallegos, and two special nieces: Artemisa Perez and Lydia Carrillo. Also survived by daughter-in-laws: Adeline Macias, Terry Gallegos, Janet Pease, and Amy Gallegos. Son-in-laws: Fred Brigner and Gary Wilson. His grand-children include: Gregory Bee, Barbara Gallegos, Tisha Bee, Joseph Gallegos, Joshua Rhinehart (wife Jennifer), Jason Bee (fiancee Natalie), Isaiah Gallegos, Matthew Gallegos, Amy Burke, Jaclyn Wilson, Jamie Gallegos, Royce Gallegos, Olivia Gallegos, and Andrew Gallegos. Great-grandchildren include: Jackson Rhinehart, Jefferson Rhinehart, and Matthew Gallegos Jr. His immediate family also includes, brother, Armando Gallegos (wife Catalina), sisters: Yolanda Gallegos, Ida Perez, (husband Sandy), Ruth Martinez, Brothers and sisters-in-laws: Jimmy Vargas, Mr. and Mrs. Louis Vargas, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Molina, Mr. and Mrs. Joe Gonzales and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
Memorial Services to be held at the West Sacramento Post 8672, Veterans of Foreign Wars, 905 Drever Street, West Sacramento on December 12, 2002 from 12:00 Noon to 4:00 PM. Please join family and friends for a celebration of Oscar's life. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make contributions to the Sacramento SPCA or the Children's Receiving Home.
(Obituary published in The Sacramento Bee from December 11 to December 12, 2002)
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