Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Saporito, Army serial number 12045655, was born at Utica, Oneida County, New York on January 18, 1924. His parents were Dominick A. Saporito (6 Jun 1903 – Aug 1978) and Angeline (Gaetano) Saporito (4 Apr 1906 – 16 Jun 2000), who were born in New York. His parents married at Utica, New York on April 21, 1923. He had a younger brother, Richard A. Saporito (20 Nov 1928 – 6 Sep 1999).
His father's parent's were Salvatore Saporito (1879 – 21 Sep 1965) and Isabella (Raciappo) Saporito (1887 – 22 Nov 1961), who both immigrated from Italy, Salvatore about 1893 and Isabella about 1898.
In 1930 he lived with his parents and his brother Richard in the home of his father's parents at 526 Elizabeth Street, Utica, New York. In 1940 he lived with his parents and brother at 206 Kossuth Avenue, Utica, New York, and his father was a chauffeur for a wholesale grocery. He completed four years of high school and was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Utica, New York on January 19, 1942. His home of record was 1502 Taylor Avenue, Utica, Oneida County, New York.
He completed Army Air Forces radio operator and aerial gunnery training, and was assigned to the 36th Bomb Squadron at Army Air Forces Station 113 near Cheddington, England. On November 29, 1944, he was transferred to the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. There he was assigned as radio operator on the heavy bomber crew of First Lieutenant Willard J. Curtiss. Here is the Curtiss crew roster on December 24, 1944:
B-17G 42-102497 – 836th Bomb Squadron
• Curtiss, Willard J – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Collins, Thomas W – 1/Lt – Copilot – Safe
• Ghezzi, Edward H – 1/Lt – Navigator – Safe
• Merritt, James K – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Barajas, Ralph R – Sgt – Engineer* – Safe
• Saporito, Salvatore A – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Blackwell, Robert C – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Pagac, Samuel J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – Safe
• Callaghan, Frank J – T/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
(*In MACR 12177 Sgt Barajas is listed as tail gunner on this mission, but his diary reflects that he flew as top turret gunner.)
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force that day. The Curtiss crew flew B-17G 42-102497 in the number six position in the Low Squadron of the Group formation. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. S/Sgt Saporito was killed in action when his crew's aircraft was shot down by German fighters south of Liege, Belgium. He was probably killed in the aircraft by enemy fire. The pilot, Lt Curtiss, and tail gunner, T/Sgt Callaghan, were also killed. The aircraft crashed near Comblain-au-Pont, Belgium. Six men survived.
S/Sgt Saporito's remains were returned to the United States and interred at Calvary Cemetery in Utica, New York on November 11, 1947. He is buried in Section 14, Lot 3, Grave 2. Rossi Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1930 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 526 Elizabeth Street. Saporito, Salvatore. 18 Apr 1930 (his father's father)
3. 1940 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 206 Kossuth Avenue. Saporito, Dominick A. 2 Apr 1940 (his father)
4. Cemetery records of Calvary Cemetery in Utica, New York
5. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Salvatore A. Saporito
7. Headquarters AAF Station 137. Special Orders Number 221. 5 Dec 1944 (transfer order from 36th Bomb Squadron to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group)
8. Mundia.com (ancestry.com) profile of Dominick Saporito (1903– )
9. New York, County Marriages, 1908–1935: Dominick Saporito and Angelina Gaetano married at Utica, Oneida County, New York on 21 Apr 1923 (his parents)
10. New York State Birth Index, 1881–1942 (ancestry.com): Salvatore Saporito was born at Utica, New York on 18 Jan 1924.
11. Social Security Death Index
12. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 12177
13. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939–1945
14. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
His father's parent's were Salvatore Saporito (1879 – 21 Sep 1965) and Isabella (Raciappo) Saporito (1887 – 22 Nov 1961), who both immigrated from Italy, Salvatore about 1893 and Isabella about 1898.
In 1930 he lived with his parents and his brother Richard in the home of his father's parents at 526 Elizabeth Street, Utica, New York. In 1940 he lived with his parents and brother at 206 Kossuth Avenue, Utica, New York, and his father was a chauffeur for a wholesale grocery. He completed four years of high school and was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Utica, New York on January 19, 1942. His home of record was 1502 Taylor Avenue, Utica, Oneida County, New York.
He completed Army Air Forces radio operator and aerial gunnery training, and was assigned to the 36th Bomb Squadron at Army Air Forces Station 113 near Cheddington, England. On November 29, 1944, he was transferred to the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. There he was assigned as radio operator on the heavy bomber crew of First Lieutenant Willard J. Curtiss. Here is the Curtiss crew roster on December 24, 1944:
B-17G 42-102497 – 836th Bomb Squadron
• Curtiss, Willard J – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Collins, Thomas W – 1/Lt – Copilot – Safe
• Ghezzi, Edward H – 1/Lt – Navigator – Safe
• Merritt, James K – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Barajas, Ralph R – Sgt – Engineer* – Safe
• Saporito, Salvatore A – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Blackwell, Robert C – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Pagac, Samuel J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – Safe
• Callaghan, Frank J – T/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
(*In MACR 12177 Sgt Barajas is listed as tail gunner on this mission, but his diary reflects that he flew as top turret gunner.)
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force that day. The Curtiss crew flew B-17G 42-102497 in the number six position in the Low Squadron of the Group formation. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. S/Sgt Saporito was killed in action when his crew's aircraft was shot down by German fighters south of Liege, Belgium. He was probably killed in the aircraft by enemy fire. The pilot, Lt Curtiss, and tail gunner, T/Sgt Callaghan, were also killed. The aircraft crashed near Comblain-au-Pont, Belgium. Six men survived.
S/Sgt Saporito's remains were returned to the United States and interred at Calvary Cemetery in Utica, New York on November 11, 1947. He is buried in Section 14, Lot 3, Grave 2. Rossi Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1930 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 526 Elizabeth Street. Saporito, Salvatore. 18 Apr 1930 (his father's father)
3. 1940 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 206 Kossuth Avenue. Saporito, Dominick A. 2 Apr 1940 (his father)
4. Cemetery records of Calvary Cemetery in Utica, New York
5. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Salvatore A. Saporito
7. Headquarters AAF Station 137. Special Orders Number 221. 5 Dec 1944 (transfer order from 36th Bomb Squadron to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group)
8. Mundia.com (ancestry.com) profile of Dominick Saporito (1903– )
9. New York, County Marriages, 1908–1935: Dominick Saporito and Angelina Gaetano married at Utica, Oneida County, New York on 21 Apr 1923 (his parents)
10. New York State Birth Index, 1881–1942 (ancestry.com): Salvatore Saporito was born at Utica, New York on 18 Jan 1924.
11. Social Security Death Index
12. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 12177
13. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939–1945
14. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Staff Sergeant Salvatore A. Saporito, Army serial number 12045655, was born at Utica, Oneida County, New York on January 18, 1924. His parents were Dominick A. Saporito (6 Jun 1903 – Aug 1978) and Angeline (Gaetano) Saporito (4 Apr 1906 – 16 Jun 2000), who were born in New York. His parents married at Utica, New York on April 21, 1923. He had a younger brother, Richard A. Saporito (20 Nov 1928 – 6 Sep 1999).
His father's parent's were Salvatore Saporito (1879 – 21 Sep 1965) and Isabella (Raciappo) Saporito (1887 – 22 Nov 1961), who both immigrated from Italy, Salvatore about 1893 and Isabella about 1898.
In 1930 he lived with his parents and his brother Richard in the home of his father's parents at 526 Elizabeth Street, Utica, New York. In 1940 he lived with his parents and brother at 206 Kossuth Avenue, Utica, New York, and his father was a chauffeur for a wholesale grocery. He completed four years of high school and was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Utica, New York on January 19, 1942. His home of record was 1502 Taylor Avenue, Utica, Oneida County, New York.
He completed Army Air Forces radio operator and aerial gunnery training, and was assigned to the 36th Bomb Squadron at Army Air Forces Station 113 near Cheddington, England. On November 29, 1944, he was transferred to the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. There he was assigned as radio operator on the heavy bomber crew of First Lieutenant Willard J. Curtiss. Here is the Curtiss crew roster on December 24, 1944:
B-17G 42-102497 – 836th Bomb Squadron
• Curtiss, Willard J – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Collins, Thomas W – 1/Lt – Copilot – Safe
• Ghezzi, Edward H – 1/Lt – Navigator – Safe
• Merritt, James K – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Barajas, Ralph R – Sgt – Engineer* – Safe
• Saporito, Salvatore A – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Blackwell, Robert C – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Pagac, Samuel J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – Safe
• Callaghan, Frank J – T/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
(*In MACR 12177 Sgt Barajas is listed as tail gunner on this mission, but his diary reflects that he flew as top turret gunner.)
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force that day. The Curtiss crew flew B-17G 42-102497 in the number six position in the Low Squadron of the Group formation. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. S/Sgt Saporito was killed in action when his crew's aircraft was shot down by German fighters south of Liege, Belgium. He was probably killed in the aircraft by enemy fire. The pilot, Lt Curtiss, and tail gunner, T/Sgt Callaghan, were also killed. The aircraft crashed near Comblain-au-Pont, Belgium. Six men survived.
S/Sgt Saporito's remains were returned to the United States and interred at Calvary Cemetery in Utica, New York on November 11, 1947. He is buried in Section 14, Lot 3, Grave 2. Rossi Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1930 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 526 Elizabeth Street. Saporito, Salvatore. 18 Apr 1930 (his father's father)
3. 1940 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 206 Kossuth Avenue. Saporito, Dominick A. 2 Apr 1940 (his father)
4. Cemetery records of Calvary Cemetery in Utica, New York
5. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Salvatore A. Saporito
7. Headquarters AAF Station 137. Special Orders Number 221. 5 Dec 1944 (transfer order from 36th Bomb Squadron to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group)
8. Mundia.com (ancestry.com) profile of Dominick Saporito (1903– )
9. New York, County Marriages, 1908–1935: Dominick Saporito and Angelina Gaetano married at Utica, Oneida County, New York on 21 Apr 1923 (his parents)
10. New York State Birth Index, 1881–1942 (ancestry.com): Salvatore Saporito was born at Utica, New York on 18 Jan 1924.
11. Social Security Death Index
12. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 12177
13. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939–1945
14. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
His father's parent's were Salvatore Saporito (1879 – 21 Sep 1965) and Isabella (Raciappo) Saporito (1887 – 22 Nov 1961), who both immigrated from Italy, Salvatore about 1893 and Isabella about 1898.
In 1930 he lived with his parents and his brother Richard in the home of his father's parents at 526 Elizabeth Street, Utica, New York. In 1940 he lived with his parents and brother at 206 Kossuth Avenue, Utica, New York, and his father was a chauffeur for a wholesale grocery. He completed four years of high school and was single when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at Utica, New York on January 19, 1942. His home of record was 1502 Taylor Avenue, Utica, Oneida County, New York.
He completed Army Air Forces radio operator and aerial gunnery training, and was assigned to the 36th Bomb Squadron at Army Air Forces Station 113 near Cheddington, England. On November 29, 1944, he was transferred to the 836th Bomb Squadron of the 487th Bomb Group. This Group was based at Army Air Forces Station 137 near Lavenham, Suffolk, England, and was part of the 8th U.S. Army Air Force in Europe. There he was assigned as radio operator on the heavy bomber crew of First Lieutenant Willard J. Curtiss. Here is the Curtiss crew roster on December 24, 1944:
B-17G 42-102497 – 836th Bomb Squadron
• Curtiss, Willard J – 1/Lt – Pilot – KIA
• Collins, Thomas W – 1/Lt – Copilot – Safe
• Ghezzi, Edward H – 1/Lt – Navigator – Safe
• Merritt, James K – 1/Lt – Bombardier – Safe
• Barajas, Ralph R – Sgt – Engineer* – Safe
• Saporito, Salvatore A – S/Sgt – Radio Operator – KIA
• Blackwell, Robert C – S/Sgt – Ball Turret Gunner – Safe
• Pagac, Samuel J – S/Sgt – Waist Gunner – Safe
• Callaghan, Frank J – T/Sgt – Tail Gunner – KIA
(*In MACR 12177 Sgt Barajas is listed as tail gunner on this mission, but his diary reflects that he flew as top turret gunner.)
On December 24, 1944, the 8th Air Force launched mission #760, the largest aerial mission of the war, which involved more than 2000 heavy bombers. The mission was to bomb German airfields and supply lines to stop the German offensive in the Ardennes known as the Battle of the Bulge. The 487th Bomb Group led the entire 8th Air Force that day. The Curtiss crew flew B-17G 42-102497 in the number six position in the Low Squadron of the Group formation. The Group's target was the airfield at Babenhausen, Germany, but the formation was attacked by German fighters before reaching the target. S/Sgt Saporito was killed in action when his crew's aircraft was shot down by German fighters south of Liege, Belgium. He was probably killed in the aircraft by enemy fire. The pilot, Lt Curtiss, and tail gunner, T/Sgt Callaghan, were also killed. The aircraft crashed near Comblain-au-Pont, Belgium. Six men survived.
S/Sgt Saporito's remains were returned to the United States and interred at Calvary Cemetery in Utica, New York on November 11, 1947. He is buried in Section 14, Lot 3, Grave 2. Rossi Funeral Home handled the arrangements.
Sources:
1. 487th Bomb Group Association
2. 1930 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 526 Elizabeth Street. Saporito, Salvatore. 18 Apr 1930 (his father's father)
3. 1940 US Census; New York; Oneida County; Utica; 206 Kossuth Avenue. Saporito, Dominick A. 2 Apr 1940 (his father)
4. Cemetery records of Calvary Cemetery in Utica, New York
5. de Jong, Ivo. The History of the 487th Bomb Group (H). Paducah KY: Turner Publishing, Oct 2004
6. Enlistment Record of Salvatore A. Saporito
7. Headquarters AAF Station 137. Special Orders Number 221. 5 Dec 1944 (transfer order from 36th Bomb Squadron to the 836th Bomb Squadron, 487th Bomb Group)
8. Mundia.com (ancestry.com) profile of Dominick Saporito (1903– )
9. New York, County Marriages, 1908–1935: Dominick Saporito and Angelina Gaetano married at Utica, Oneida County, New York on 21 Apr 1923 (his parents)
10. New York State Birth Index, 1881–1942 (ancestry.com): Salvatore Saporito was born at Utica, New York on 18 Jan 1924.
11. Social Security Death Index
12. U.S. Army Air Forces Missing Air Crew Report 12177
13. U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939–1945
14. U.S. War Department. World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel. Washington, D.C., June 1946
Research by:
Paul Webber
Find A Grave member ID 47577572
Inscription
Family grave marker:
HAIL MARY FULL OF GRACE
S/SGT. SALVATORE A. SAPORITO
487TH BOMB. GRP. 8TH AIR FORCE
KILLED IN ACTION IN GERMANY
1924 – 1944
VA grave marker:
SGT. SALVATORE SAPORITO
487TH BOMB. GP. 8TH U.S.A.A.F.
WORLD WAR II
JAN. 18, 1924 DEC. 24, 1944
Family Members
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