S/Sgt. Samuel Michael Manfredi

Born: 1921 - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Parents: Nicholas & Angeline Manfredi

Siblings: 6 sisters, 2 brothers

Home:

    - 1110 North Nineteenth Avenue - Melrose Park, Illinois

Education:

    - Melrose Park School

    - Proviso Township High School

        - Class of 1939

            - left before class graduated

Enlisted:

    - Unknown

Serial Number: 36615401

Training: 

    - Colorado

        - trained as gunner

Unit: 

    - 371st Bomb Squadron, 307th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 13th Air Force

        - member of 1st Lt. Edward J. Rice's B24's crew

        - tail gunner

Missions:

    - Truk Island

    - Yap Island

    - Palau Island

Killed in Action:

    - 5 July 1944

        - planes sent out on mission to destroy Japanese Airdrome

        - Sam's plane was in first wave

        - Rice assumed command of mission when lead plane does not make rendezvous area

        - planes attacked by 28 Japanese fighters

        - Rice's plane took heavy damage

            - Japanese planes swarmed on Rice's plane

        - engine number three started to burn

        - Rice made decision to ditch the plane

        - plane started to spin out of control to the left

        - five crew members were able to bail out

Memorial: 

    - Tablets of the Missing - American Military Cemetery - Manila, Philippine Islands

Medals:

    - Purple Heart

    - Bronze Star

    - Silver Star

    - Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

Return to Proviso War Dead