Fiorino Anthony Cinquanta
Military
Toni Carroll, daughter
Object Number - UPL 56801 - Fiorino Anthony Cinquanta
Assigned to 547BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. 3-Feb-45 B-17 44-6592 'Stardust' damaged by flak over Berlin. Pilot 2nd Lt. Ruckman flew damaged a/c behind Soviet lines and force landed at an airfield near Torun, Poland. Crew returned to duty in March 1945.
My father’s Italian born mother encouraged her sons to become pilots so that they wouldn’t die in the trenches during WWII. So my father lied about his age and enlisted in the Army Air Corps at age 17. He flew 17 missions over Berlin. However, on the first day of the Mission to Berlin, his B-17 “Stardust” was hit by flak and was forced to leave formation and managed to land behind enemy lines in Poland. He recalled that there were still hot meals left on camp stoves when they arrived, and eventually sharing vodka around a campfire in the cold with a few locals.
It took six weeks for the crew to scavenge parts from damaged and crashed enemy airplanes, but Stardust successfully flew again, returning to England via Italy, all crew members safe and onboard. My father completed 16 more missions. He continued his career as a pilot in the Army Reserves and retired as a Lt. Colonel. He began a second career as a Safety Officer for Hughes aircraft and enjoyed being a private pilot throughout his life.
This brave, modest, and wonderful man rests peacefully at Arlington National Cemetery, as of October, 2000. Thank you to the American Air Museum in Britain for honoring and saving the stories of these courageous and daring pilots. They really did make a difference.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
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: 384th Bomb Group
Aircraft
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Grafton Undermud
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Ridgway, PA | 7 December 1924 | Son of Oliana Mary [Rocco] Cinquanta. |
|
Enlisted |
Erie, PA | 6 March 1943 | Erie, Pennsylvania |
|
Other Landed behind Soviet lines |
Torun, Poland | 3 February 1945 | |
|
Died |
Moorpark, CA | 1 October 2000 | |
|
Buried |
5 October 2000 | Arlington National Cemetery Arlington, Virginia Plot: Columbarium Court 6, Section T, Column 4, Niche 2 | |
|
Based |
Grafton Underwood | Assigned to 547BS, 384BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/312794214
https://www.fold3.com/image/541421706
https://www.fold3.com/record/87114001-fiorino-a-cinquanta
https://www.fold3.com/record/19975251-fiorino-a-cinquanta
https://www.fold3.com/record/619347698-fiorino-cinquanta-1924
https://www.fold3.com/record/714824126-cinquanta-fiorino-anthony
https://384thbombgroup.com/_content/_pages/person.php?PersonKey=7929
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/5553394/fiorino-anthony-cinquanta
Hi Toni - I have just moved you wonderful tribute to your dad into the main body of his record. Thank you so much for adding it to your father's record - it means a lot to us here when relatives take the time to do this.
My father’s Italian born mother encouraged her sons to become pilots so that they wouldn’t die in the trenches during WW II. So my father lied about his age and enlisted in the Army Air Corps at age 17. He flew 17 missions over Berlin. However, on the first day of the Mission to Berlin, his B-17 “Stardust” was hit by flak and was forced to leave formation and managed to land behind enemy lines in Poland. He recalled that there were still hot meals left on camp stoves when they arrived, and eventually sharing vodka around a campfire in the cold with a few locals. It took six weeks for the crew to scavenge parts from damaged and crashed enemy airplanes, but Stardust successfully flew again, returning to England via Italy, all crew members safe and onboard. My father completed16 more missions. He continued his career as a pilot in the Army Reserves and retired as a Lt. Colonel. He began a second career as a Safety Officer for Hughes aaircraft and enjoyed being a private pilot throughout his life. This brave, modest, and wonderful man rests peacefully at Arlington National Cemetary, as of October, 2000. Thank you to the American Air Museum in Britain for honoring and saving the stories of these courageous and daring pilots. They really did make a difference.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 12154 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database
