Enrico John Chelini
Military ROLL OF HONOURFind-A-Grave Memorials - 2ndLt. Enrico J Chelini
BIRTH : 15 Oct 1917
San Francisco County, California, USA
DEATH : Norway - 18 Nov 1943 (aged 26)
BURIAL :
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial
Coton, South Cambridgeshire District, Cambridgeshire, England
PLOT Tablets of the Missing
MEMORIAL ID 56288525 · View Source
2ndLt. Enrico J. Chelini was a B-24 pilot in WWll in the 8th Air Force, in the U.K. He was the son of Joseph and Louisa Chelini of Colfax, CA. A former student at Placer Union High School and Placer Junior College, he played football, basketball, and baseball as an undergraduate.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army, March 26, 1941, in Salt Lake City, UT. He had recently arrived at Hethel, an American base in England, where he was assigned as a co-pilot on the B-24D Liberator named, Vagabond King. He was flying as a designated observer on the aircraft on a bombing mission to Oslo, Norway, when enemy aircraft, FW-190s, were encountered. In the ensuing engagement, the, Vagabond King, sustained major damage and crashed into the sea. Lt. Chelini and, Vagabond King's entire crew were killed in action (KIA) with no survivors. At the time of his death, Lt. Chelini had been commissioned about six months and had served in the enlisted ranks for 18 months prior to that time.
Observer : 2nd.Lt. Enrico J. Chelini - KIA
389th Bomb Group - Missing Air Crew Report Details
USAAF - MACR 2885
Date Lost: 18-Nov-43
Serial Number: 42-40787
Aircraft Model B-24D-95-CO
Aircraft Letter: V
Aircraft Name: Vagabond King
Squadron: 565th Bomb Squadron - 389th Bomb Group - 8th Air Force
Location: North Sea
Cause: German FW-190's
SERVICE : Lt. Enrico J. Chelini was flying as an observer pilot on the B-24D, Vagabond King, when it was shot down by FW-190s over the North Sea. The aircraft crashed into the North Sea. 10 KIA. 18-Nov-43. MACR 2885
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: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-661952
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Role/Job: Pilot
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: - Vagabond King
- Unit: 389th Bomb Group 565th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 18 November 1943
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Cambridge American Military Cemetery
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
San Francisco, CA | 15 October 1917 | Son of Joseph and Louisa Chelini |
Enlisted |
Salt Lake City, Utah | 26 March 1941 | Enrico Chelini enlisted in the U.S. Army, March 26, 1941, in Salt Lake City, UT. |
Died Killed in Action (KIA) |
North Sea | 18 November 1943 - 18 November 1943 | Killed in action after a bombing mission over the German airfields at Oslo, Norway. Lt. Chelini's bomber was intercepted over the North Sea by FW-109s and was shot down - crashed into the sea with no survivors. 18-Nov-43. 10 KIA. MACR 2885 |
Buried |
Tablets of the Missing Cambridge American Cemetery Coton, Cambs, UK | ||
Based |
Hethel | 18 November 1943 | Assigned to 565BS, 389BG, 8AF USAAF. |
Revisions
https://www.fold3.com/image/28771871
https://www.fold3.com/image/311039344
https://www.fold3.com/image/612058640
https://www.fold3.com/record/529901599/enrico-j-chelini-american-battle…
https://www.fold3.com/record/717697673/chelini-enrico-j-defense-powmia-…
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56288525/enrico-j-chelini
I'm Enrico's 3rd cousin, and this photo is one of the family photos of him we inherited from my grandparents and great aunt after they passed.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2885 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database