Army WWII.
John was born and raised in Erie Pa. He enlisted in the army and was a pilot on the Cicero Kid, named after his father's sister's family. His plane had mechanical failure in mid air, causing the engine to break into pieces, killing him and his co-pilot. The other 7 crew members escaped injured but survived just before the whole plane exploded.
Cicero Kid crew:
*Pilot*- John Joseph Chimenti
*Co-Pilot*- James Duane Clark
*Navigator*- William (Bill) Martin Foster (escaped through the hole in the nose; followed bombardier)
*Bombardier*- Daniel (Dan) F. Gilmore (he was blown out of the nose and fell unconscious for 10,000 feet)
*Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner*- Grayburn Hilton Cooper Jr. (escaped through the escape hatch)
*Radio Operator*- Arthur (Art) E. Weiss Jr. (Escaped after being blown to the floor and going to what was left of his fuselage. He then rolled out the plane)
*Ball Turret Gunner*- Samuel M. Longtine (Escaped after climbing out of his section falling apart towards the Earth. He then parachuted to safety)
*Waist Gunner*- Willie H. Dew (Escaped after being blown through the side of the fuselage. He didn't remember opening his parachute but somehow did)
*Tail Gunner*- Michael J. Kuzel Jr. (Escaped after he started spinning in the detached tail section. His parachute opened inside the plane, he grabbed on and jumped, making it clear of the plane)
This information was taken from "A Public Relations Release .. published in the Stars and Stripes 16 November 1944" All credits go to J. Brannan who found all the information out.
(I paraphrased what he wrote)
John was born and raised in Erie Pa. He enlisted in the army and was a pilot on the Cicero Kid, named after his father's sister's family. His plane had mechanical failure in mid air, causing the engine to break into pieces, killing him and his co-pilot. The other 7 crew members escaped injured but survived just before the whole plane exploded.
Cicero Kid crew:
*Pilot*- John Joseph Chimenti
*Co-Pilot*- James Duane Clark
*Navigator*- William (Bill) Martin Foster (escaped through the hole in the nose; followed bombardier)
*Bombardier*- Daniel (Dan) F. Gilmore (he was blown out of the nose and fell unconscious for 10,000 feet)
*Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner*- Grayburn Hilton Cooper Jr. (escaped through the escape hatch)
*Radio Operator*- Arthur (Art) E. Weiss Jr. (Escaped after being blown to the floor and going to what was left of his fuselage. He then rolled out the plane)
*Ball Turret Gunner*- Samuel M. Longtine (Escaped after climbing out of his section falling apart towards the Earth. He then parachuted to safety)
*Waist Gunner*- Willie H. Dew (Escaped after being blown through the side of the fuselage. He didn't remember opening his parachute but somehow did)
*Tail Gunner*- Michael J. Kuzel Jr. (Escaped after he started spinning in the detached tail section. His parachute opened inside the plane, he grabbed on and jumped, making it clear of the plane)
This information was taken from "A Public Relations Release .. published in the Stars and Stripes 16 November 1944" All credits go to J. Brannan who found all the information out.
(I paraphrased what he wrote)
Army WWII.
John was born and raised in Erie Pa. He enlisted in the army and was a pilot on the Cicero Kid, named after his father's sister's family. His plane had mechanical failure in mid air, causing the engine to break into pieces, killing him and his co-pilot. The other 7 crew members escaped injured but survived just before the whole plane exploded.
Cicero Kid crew:
*Pilot*- John Joseph Chimenti
*Co-Pilot*- James Duane Clark
*Navigator*- William (Bill) Martin Foster (escaped through the hole in the nose; followed bombardier)
*Bombardier*- Daniel (Dan) F. Gilmore (he was blown out of the nose and fell unconscious for 10,000 feet)
*Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner*- Grayburn Hilton Cooper Jr. (escaped through the escape hatch)
*Radio Operator*- Arthur (Art) E. Weiss Jr. (Escaped after being blown to the floor and going to what was left of his fuselage. He then rolled out the plane)
*Ball Turret Gunner*- Samuel M. Longtine (Escaped after climbing out of his section falling apart towards the Earth. He then parachuted to safety)
*Waist Gunner*- Willie H. Dew (Escaped after being blown through the side of the fuselage. He didn't remember opening his parachute but somehow did)
*Tail Gunner*- Michael J. Kuzel Jr. (Escaped after he started spinning in the detached tail section. His parachute opened inside the plane, he grabbed on and jumped, making it clear of the plane)
This information was taken from "A Public Relations Release .. published in the Stars and Stripes 16 November 1944" All credits go to J. Brannan who found all the information out.
(I paraphrased what he wrote)
John was born and raised in Erie Pa. He enlisted in the army and was a pilot on the Cicero Kid, named after his father's sister's family. His plane had mechanical failure in mid air, causing the engine to break into pieces, killing him and his co-pilot. The other 7 crew members escaped injured but survived just before the whole plane exploded.
Cicero Kid crew:
*Pilot*- John Joseph Chimenti
*Co-Pilot*- James Duane Clark
*Navigator*- William (Bill) Martin Foster (escaped through the hole in the nose; followed bombardier)
*Bombardier*- Daniel (Dan) F. Gilmore (he was blown out of the nose and fell unconscious for 10,000 feet)
*Engineer/ Top Turret Gunner*- Grayburn Hilton Cooper Jr. (escaped through the escape hatch)
*Radio Operator*- Arthur (Art) E. Weiss Jr. (Escaped after being blown to the floor and going to what was left of his fuselage. He then rolled out the plane)
*Ball Turret Gunner*- Samuel M. Longtine (Escaped after climbing out of his section falling apart towards the Earth. He then parachuted to safety)
*Waist Gunner*- Willie H. Dew (Escaped after being blown through the side of the fuselage. He didn't remember opening his parachute but somehow did)
*Tail Gunner*- Michael J. Kuzel Jr. (Escaped after he started spinning in the detached tail section. His parachute opened inside the plane, he grabbed on and jumped, making it clear of the plane)
This information was taken from "A Public Relations Release .. published in the Stars and Stripes 16 November 1944" All credits go to J. Brannan who found all the information out.
(I paraphrased what he wrote)
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