Joseph Taddonio Jr.

by Joseph Richard Taddonio
(Glendale AZ )

gunner of 515th squadron in No. Africa. much more info could be obtained from Grandson Steve Taddonio Jr. steve.taddonio@ comcast.net My father could've stayed stateside as a welder or electrician at Charleston Navy Yahd, he had graduated from Optometry college. waited til drafted then chose Army Air Corps trained as radio first in S. Dakota? then to AZ gunnery training in Kingman then Tucson on B-24's. pink plane for the Desert. he missed first Ploesti mission but there were at least 2 missions over the Alps, only credit one each, later 2! Italy, Battle over Vicenza most of outfit gone so sent to England as tail gunner. done Late June 1944, 40 missions. he had prescription sunglasses, slightly myopic. later he discovered he was the only one in combat out of friends from East Boston! I'll attempt to attach 1 photo. btw he appears in the video " 200th mission of 376th hbg" after 3:00 standing in the middle chewing gum!Optometry 40 yrs. passed away age 95+.