Manfredi, S/Sgt. Sam M.

S/Sgt. Sam Mike Manfredi 
Born: 24 October 1920 – Clancy, 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 
Employment: American Can Company – Maywood, Illinois
Selective Service Registration: 16 February 1942
Contact Person: Nick Manfredi – father
Enlisted: 
– Not Known
Serial Number: 36615401 
Training: 
– Colorado 
– trained as a 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 a mission to destroy Japanese Airdrome 
– Sam’s plane was in the first wave 
– Rice assumed command of the mission when the 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 the decision to ditch the plane 
– the plane started to spin out of control to the left 
– five crew members were able to bailout 
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 

 

 

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