Vito Santo Pedone
MilitaryNARA ref 342-FH-3A09086-53323AC.
personnal knowledge. Change of the name of the man on the left of the picture. He is the crew chief and not the radio operator
Initially assigned to 8AF as A-20 bomber pilot, completed 25 x missions on type. Transferred to IX Troop Carrier Command, 9AF USAAF as Operations officer. Co-piloted lead aircraft [C-47 42-93098] of lead serial to drop pathfinder paratroops at zone A, St-Germain-de-Varrevill, France on D-day 6-Jun-44.
WWII brought Vito Pedone and Jerry Curtis to England in 1943 to successfully prepare and execute a critical mission: "D-Day". The many months to build-up American forces and prepare for D-day provided the opportunity for them to meet and fall in love. They were stationed at different air bases, so Vito would pilot various aircraft to visit Jerry at her base! They were married in England in 1943. They both would successfully execute their assigned D-Day missions:
- Vito's : the Airborne Invasion of Normandy
- Jerry's: the Medical Air Evacuation of the wounded from Normandy back to England.
Their full story can be found in "The D-Day Pilot and Flight Nurse" by Stephen Pedone.
Awards: DFC, LOM, AM (5OLC), WWII Victory, EAME, Defense, National Defense, Korean and UN medal.
Post War: Remained in USAF, from 46-50 in South Pacific testing a-bombs. Later flying 135 combat missions in B-26 and C-47's supporting US army special forces units in Vietnam conflict. Re-assigned as a F-105 Starfighter pilot 41st air division, 5th AF in Japan. Rose to rank of Colonel by his retirement in 1973.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Command
- Air Force: Ninth Air Force
- Type Category: Troop Carrier
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: IX Air Force Troop Carrier Command
- Service Numbers: O-309751
- Highest Rank: Colonel
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 806th Medical Air Evacuation Transportation Squadron
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Flight Nurse
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
- Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 94th Troop Carrier Squadron
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Westchester County, New York, USA | 30 June 1921 | Son of Morris and Josephine Pedone. |
Enlisted |
Fort Bragg, NC | 18 November 1941 | Fort Bragg, North Carolina |
Other Chalk #1, Serial #1 D-day |
50480 Saint-Germain-de-Varreville, France | 6 June 1944 | Co-piloted lead aircraft [C-47 42-93098] of lead serial to drop pathfinder paratroops at zone A, St-Germain-de-Varrevill, France on D-day 6-Jun-44. |
Died |
New York City, New York, USA | 24 March 2007 | |
Based |
North Witham | Assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command, 9AF USAAF. | |
Frederick Ave, Neptune City, NJ 07753, USA | |||
Buried |
Arlington National Cemetery Arlington Arlington County Virginia, USA | ||
Other Graduated flight school |
Graduated flight school, commissioned 2Lt Apr-42. |
Revisions
Information from Stephen Pedone (Son), Lt. Col., USAF, Ret, Naples, Florida and his article "The D-Day Pilot and Flight Nurse"
https://www.fold3.com/page/621056232_vito_pedone%20%20(1921)/details/
https://www.fold3.com/page/83979290_vito_s%20pedone/details/
https://www.fold3.com/page/9387280_vito_pedone/details/
https://www.fold3.com/image/139530030/?terms=Vito%20S%20Pedone
World War II Army Airborne Troop Carriers By David Polk
https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=49350183