Private Vito LaGioia was a radioman/gunner assigned to VMSB-132. His squadron arrived at Henderson Field on 30 October 1942, and immediately began combat operations in the skies of the Solomon Islands.
On 2 November 1942, a strike was organized to attack a fleet of Japanese warships approaching Guadalcanal. LaGioia and his pilot, 2Lt. Melvin R. Nawman, were among the Marines who volunteered for the mission. Three SBD Dauntless bombers departed Henderson Field at 1800 hours – and none returned. Nawman and LaGioia were reported as missing in action.
SBD-3 Bureau Number 03210 – VMSB-132
Second Lieutenant Melvin Rollie Nawman
Private Vito Peter LaGioia
This aircraft was found wrecked on Santa Isabel Island in April, 1943. The remains of the pilot were buried nearby, recovered after the war and later repatriated to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
No trace of Private LaGioia was found, and on 3 November 1943, he was declared dead.
Parents: Anna (Anatra) & Peter LaGioia.
Service ID: 380701.
Entered the service from Illinois.
Date of Death November 3 1943 (Declared Dead)
Status Missing In Action
★ Purple Heart
LAGIOIA, Vito Peter, 380701, VMSB132, MAG13, 1stMAW, FMF, Solomon Is, November 3, 1943, killed in action.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
Private Vito LaGioia was a radioman/gunner assigned to VMSB-132. His squadron arrived at Henderson Field on 30 October 1942, and immediately began combat operations in the skies of the Solomon Islands.
On 2 November 1942, a strike was organized to attack a fleet of Japanese warships approaching Guadalcanal. LaGioia and his pilot, 2Lt. Melvin R. Nawman, were among the Marines who volunteered for the mission. Three SBD Dauntless bombers departed Henderson Field at 1800 hours – and none returned. Nawman and LaGioia were reported as missing in action.
SBD-3 Bureau Number 03210 – VMSB-132
Second Lieutenant Melvin Rollie Nawman
Private Vito Peter LaGioia
This aircraft was found wrecked on Santa Isabel Island in April, 1943. The remains of the pilot were buried nearby, recovered after the war and later repatriated to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
No trace of Private LaGioia was found, and on 3 November 1943, he was declared dead.
Parents: Anna (Anatra) & Peter LaGioia.
Service ID: 380701.
Entered the service from Illinois.
Date of Death November 3 1943 (Declared Dead)
Status Missing In Action
★ Purple Heart
LAGIOIA, Vito Peter, 380701, VMSB132, MAG13, 1stMAW, FMF, Solomon Is, November 3, 1943, killed in action.
Source material from multiple public domain websites.
Remembered by Buffalo (50696055)
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PVT, US MARINE CORPS
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