U.S. Army Air Force 2nd Lt. John D. Piedmonte O-206502 719th Bomb Squadron, 449th Bomb Group - Navigator 15th Air Force - Grottaglie – Southern Italy. |
Type A-2 Jacket, above left photo. This jacket was manufactured by the J.A. Dubow Mfg Co, Chicago ILL. |
Left chest area of the A-2 Jacket, above left and right photos. The insignia on the right chest is hand tooled Capri leather for the 449th Bomb Group. This insignia shows heavy damage. The insignia on the left chest is hand tooled Capri leather for the 719th Bomb Squadron. This insignia also shows heavy damage. Above the Squadron insignia is a set of hand tooled Navigators wings with the name (very obscured) J D PIEDMONTE 2nd Lt. John D. Piedmonte, ASN O-206502 served with the 719th Bomb Squadron , 449th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force as a B- 24 “Liberator” Navigator in Grottaglie – Southern Italy during WWII. He was born November 26th 1921 in Syracuse New York, SSN 067-18-5578. He died April 16th 2002 and is buried Saint Mary’s Cemetery, Dewitt, New York. His B-24 crew during WWII with the 719th BS was: Pilot: William M. Cambell O-825378; Co-Pilot: Robert J. Boaz O-831096; Navigator/Bombardier:2nd Lt. John D. Piedmonte; Top Turret Gunner: S/Sgt. Ernest Hughes 35883146; Nose Gunner: S/Sgt. Lewis J. O’Kelly 34885322; Tail Turret Gunner: S/Sgt. Marvin R. Warner 36896521; Ball Turret Gunner: S/Sgt. Hugo D. Bloedel 36655851; Radio Operator: Thomas F. Callahan 11047300; Right Waist Gunner: T/Sgt. Seymour L. Cohen 32926763. For more information, please go to: http://www.449th.com/ |
Left sleeve showing hand tooled Capri leather American Flag, left photo. Right sleeve showing removal of an Army Air Force insignia, right photo. |
Souvenir bell from the Island of Capri, above left and right photo. This style of bell was favored by Aviators in the Italian theater of operations. The bell is constructed from silver and marked "CAPRI 1944" on one side and "SAN MICHAEL" on the reverse. |
Nomenclature label, above photo. This label is marked: TYPE A-2 DWG. NO. 30-1415 A.C. CONTRACT ORDER NO. W33-038 A.C.-1755(11631) PROPERTY AIR FORCE U.S.ARMY J.A. DUBOW MFG.CO. CHICAGO, ILL. Size 38 |