Enrico Carpini
Military
Family photo
Object Number - UPL 30233 - Enrico "Rick" Carpini Radio Gunner B-17 #42-37978 "Ka-Lang" 305th BG/365th Bomber Squadron
My dad, Enrico 'Rick' Carpini was from Linden, NJ and served as a radio gunner on a B-17G with the 305th Bomb Group/365th Bomb Squadron. He flew 30 missions from 1/4/44-5/22/44. The pilot was John F. Schleifer from Buffalo, NY.
The majority of his missions were on #42-37978 named "Ka-Lang" (the sound that shrapnel made as it hit the fuselage). As best as can be determined, "Ka-Lang" was assigned to another crew on or about 5/13/44, was hit by flak, lost one engine and had only a half hour of fuel remaining. The pilot turned north and landed in Sweden.
This was confirmed by Vivian Rogers-Price, research director at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force. I have no reference on which plane my father served on his last two missions on 5/20/44 and 5/22/44.
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: 305th Bomb Group
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Nicknames: Ka-Lang
- Unit: 305th Bomb Group 365th Bomb Squadron
Missions
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Linden, NJ, USA |
Revisions
USAAF military records, info obtained from Vivian Rogers-Price, Ph.D., Research Center Director National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, and entries made in my father's personal diary from 1944.
305th Bomb Group Roster / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia
