Don Richard Bucci
Military
David Baron Crew
466th BG - 787th BS
B-24J-1-FO #42-95609 "Ghost Too" Code: T9-T (784th BS)
Standing Left to Right: Richard Z. Rozner (CP), David Braverman (B), Thomas W. Dunmire (N), David Baron (P)
Kneeling Left to Right: Donald Bucci (TG), John D. Richardson (WG), Jesse Jones (WG), Donald R. Orebaugh (R/O), Samuel W. Cianci (NG), Leon Johnson (FE) 466th Bomb Group collection
Corrected Orebaugh's name. - 466th BG Historian
Object Number - UPL 17845 - Crew #783 David Baron Crew 466th BG - 787th BS B-24J-1-FO #42-95609 "Ghost Too" Code: T9-T (784th BS) Standing Left to Right: Richard Z....
Flew 25 missions, mainly in 'Gran Slam. ' In July 1950 called out of reserve & served in the 434th Engr. Const. Br. Served in Korea early February 1951 to December 1951. My rank was M/Sergeant (1st Sergeant. ).
4 Air Medals/ 3 Battle Stars
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-709739
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Gran Slam
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 786th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Attlebridge Arsenal, Station 120
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Vicksburg, Mississippi | 9 October 1920 | |
|
Other 466th BG Combat Tour |
Attlebridge, Norwich, Norfolk NR9, UK | 3 February 1945 - 18 April 1945 | 25 missions |
|
Died |
Vicksburg, MS, USA | 20 November 2010 | Don was born Oct. 9, 1920, in Vicksburg to Christine Cavallo Bucci and Andrew Bucci Sr. He attended elementary and high school at St. Aloysius and graduated in 1938. He then attended Louisiana State University and studied civil engineering from 1938 to 1942. At the outbreak of World War II, he enlisted in the military and went on to serve in the Eighth Air Force, 466th Bomb Group stationed at Attlebridge Airfield in England. He was a tailgunner on a B-24 bomber and flew 25 missions. In later years, Don and his wife attended several reunions of his bomber crew and enjoyed spending time with friends made during the war. After the war he attended Mississippi State University and finished his degree in civil engineering. He returned to Vicksburg and began working for Waterways Experiment Station. On Oct. 15, 1949, he married Margaret Frances Salmon of Vicksburg, and this year the couple celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary. During the Korean War, he served as master sergeant in an engineering battalion along with fellow employees from Waterways Experiment Station. He retired from WES in 1977. In his youth, Don was a charter member of Boy Scout Troop No. 7 and was a special guest during the troop's 75th anniversary celebration on Feb. 8, 2009. He was a member of St. Michael Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Mississippi Society of Professional Engineers and National Society of Professional Engineers. He served as president of the St. Aloysius "A" Club from 1971-72 and, in the early 1980s, he and his wife, Margaret, worked concessions during St. Al basketball games. He was an avid fan of the Mississippi State Bulldogs. Don always maintained a sense of curiosity about the world and was a lifelong learner, reader and observer. He was also a natural conversationalist whose lively storytelling, sharp wit and sense of humor never failed to entertain. Above all, Don was a devoted family man who loved nothing more than spending time at home with his wife, children, grandchildren, relatives and friends. |
|
Enlisted |
Vicksburg, MS, USA | 24 November 2010 | Cedar Hill Cemetery Vicksburg Warren County Mississippi, USA Plot: Div. C, Square 225, Lot 2 |
Revisions
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / self