Anthony DellaPorta

Military
Lieutenant Anthony Delaporto a navigator of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group with a camera. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Anthony Delaporto, Navigator, Qualified Quail. Fall 1944. 91st Bomb Group. Country Club of the E.T.O. 1 of 3 not KIA or injured.' media-408184.jpg FRE 3598 Lieutenant Anthony Dellaporta navigator of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group with a camera. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Anthony Delaporto, Navigator, Qualified Quail. Fall 1944. 91st Bomb Group. Country Club of the E.T.O. 1 of 3 not KIA or injured.'

Correct name is Anthony Dellaporta. Roger Freeman Collection

https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=5&tf=F&q=del…

Object Number - FRE 3598 - Lieutenant Anthony Dellaporta navigator of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group with a camera. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Anthony...

2nd Lt. Anthony (Tony) Dela Porta was a navigator serving in the 401st Squadron, 91st Bomb Group (Bassingbourn). His primary aircraft was B-17G S/N 42-97851 ("Qualified Quail"). He and his crew were shot down while flying B-17G S/N 44-6093 ("USA The Hard Way") on November 2nd 1944, near Westeroden Germany, while on a mission to bomb the infamous "Leunawerkes" synthetic fuel factory, near Merseburg. This mission resulted in the loss of 13 91st B.G. aircraft, one of the highest single-day losses of the war. Tony and the other surviving officers of his crew were interred at Stalag Luft III, near Sagan, Germany.



DellaPorta's experiences are detailed in his crew mate Roger Armstrong's book, "USA The Hard Way" (Quail House Publishing, 1991)

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

Unofficial emblem of the 91st Bomb Group.

91st Bomb Group

  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

Randall H Archer

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-767031
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot
Roger Armstrong a, radio operator of the 91st Bomb Group with his B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-97851) nicknamed "Qualified Quail". A veteran has Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Roger Armstrong (Sioux Falls, S. Dak.), Radio Operator on "Qualified Quail." Shot down from 13th Air Base stationed at, on 13th mission, flew 1st mission on 13th Sept. 1944 and group lost 13 planes (including the spare plane we were flying) Nov. 2. 1944. (Meseberg). Lucky day, as plane that moved into the #3 position, on

Roger W Armstrong

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17131144
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator

John J Askins

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-761845
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Aircraft

42-97851

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Qualified Quail
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group led by Lieutenant John J Askins, with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Qualified Quail". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew of "Qualified Quail", Triangle-A, LL-K, Back Row: L to R; Antony Delaporto, Navigator; John J. Askins, Pilot; Randal Archer, Co-Pilot; Paul Collier, Bombardier. Front Row: Roger Armstron[g], Radio; Rob[er]t Webb, Ball Gunner; Hilmer Beicker, Engineer; Ralph Azevedo, Armorer/Gunner; Roy Loyless, Tail Gunner.

44-6093

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: USA The Hard Way
  • Unit: 91st Bomb Group 401st Bomb Squadron

Places

Stalag Luft III

  • Site type: Prisoner of war camp
  • Known as: Stalag Luft III, Sagan, Germany

Events

Event Location Date Description

Other

Prisoner of War (POW)

Germany 2 November 1944

Born

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Revisions

Date
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources

https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=5&tf=F&q=del…

Date
Contributorpdaskins
Changes
Sources

Connected existing photo of Anthony DelaPorta to his profile.

Date
Contributorpdaskins
Changes
Sources

Corrected name and added details to biography.

Date
Contributorpsan5722
Changes
Sources

This website

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

MACR 10141 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

Anthony DellaPorta: Gallery (2 items)

Lieutenant Anthony Delaporto a navigator of the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group with a camera. Printed caption on reverse of print: 'Anthony Delaporto, Navigator, Qualified Quail. Fall 1944. 91st Bomb Group. Country Club of the E.T.O. 1 of 3 not KIA or injured.'

Object number: FRE 3598 - Lieutenant Anthony Dellaporta navigator of the...

A bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group led by Lieutenant John J Askins, with their B-17 Flying Fortress nicknamed "Qualified Quail". Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Crew of "Qualified Quail", Triangle-A, LL-K, Back Row: L to R; Antony Delaporto, Navigator; John J. Askins, Pilot; Randal Archer, Co-Pilot; Paul Collier, Bombardier. Front Row: Roger Armstron[g], Radio; Rob[er]t Webb, Ball Gunner; Hilmer Beicker, Engineer; Ralph Azevedo, Armorer/Gunner; Roy Loyless, Tail Gunner.

Object number: FRE 3601 - A bomber crew of the 91st Bomb Group led by...