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| PERSONALIA |
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| Name: |
Alterio, Ernest |
| Date of birth: | June 12th, 1919 (Bridgeport/Connecticut, United States)
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| Date of death: |
December 28th, 2003 (Shelton/Connecticut, United States)
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| Nationality: |
American |
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BIOGRAPHY:
Servicenumber 01 999 701/T-60568.
Ernest Alterio served as pilot with the 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 453th Troop Carrier Group from January 6th, 1943 until November 16th, 1945. Between 1942 and July 10th, 1943 he received training as Glider Pilot at Grand Forks, North Dakota (1942 - 50 hrs preflight training), Fort Sumner, New Mexico (1942 - 20 hrs Basic glider), Stuttgard, Arkansas (January 1943 - 30 hrs), and advanced Glider Pilot training in Ardmore-Oklahoma, Bowman Field-Kentucky and Pope Field-North Carolina (April - July 1943). He left for Europe on October 21st, 1943, to arrive there on November 2nd. During the Normandy invasion he landed as co-pilot of a Horsa-glider near Sainte-Mère-Église. His plane smashed into a tree and Ernest Alterio was catapulted out of his cockpit and got injured. During his operational service he flew with the gliders Waco CG-4A and Horsa and on the motorised types Douglas C-47, Douglas C-53D, Aeronca L-3E, Stinson L-5 and Piper L-4. He left for the United States again on July 2nd, 1945 and arrived there on July 17th.
For the part of his unit in Operation Dragoon on August 15th, 1944, Ernest Alterio is entitled to wear the Distinguished Unit Badge in addition to his personal awards, by General Order No. 212 9th Air Force, 23rd August 1944.
Promotions:
5th January 1943: Staff Sergeant;
?: 2nd Lieutenant.
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AIR MEDAL (AM)
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Rank:
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2nd Lieutenant
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Unit:
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53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 453th Troop Carrier Group
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Awarded on:
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July 5th, 1944
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Details:
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General Order No. 33, IX TCC, 5th July 1944.
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AIR MEDAL (AM)
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Rank:
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2nd Lieutenant
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Unit:
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53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 453th Troop Carrier Group
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Awarded on:
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May 18th, 1945
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Details:
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Second Air Medal received as an oak leafcluster for on the ribbon of the first Air Medal.
General Order No. 71 9TCC 18 May 1945.
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AIR MEDAL (AM)
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Rank:
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2nd Lieutenant
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Unit:
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53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 453th Troop Carrier Group
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Awarded on:
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May 18th, 1945
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Details:
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Third Air Medal received as a second oak leaf cluster for on the ribbon of the first Air Medal.
General Order No. 71 9TCC 18 May 1945.
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PURPLE HEART
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Rank:
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2nd Lieutenant
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Unit:
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53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 453th Troop Carrier Group
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Awarded on:
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June 18th, 1945
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Action:
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Awarded for a wound received near Sainte-Mère-Église on June 6th, 1944.
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Details:
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General Order No. 8, 53rd TC, 18 june 1945.
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BRONZE STAR (BSM)
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Rank:
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2nd Lieutenant
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Unit:
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Provisional Glider Pilot Company, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 453th Troop Carrier Group
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Awarded on:
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September 7th, 1995
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Action:
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Received for his part in the airlandings as First Pilot of a Waco CG-4A during Operation Varsity, March 24th, 1945 in the vacinity of Wesel, Germany
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Details:
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Attached to the 194th Glider Infantry Regiment.
Special Order GB-325, Department of the Air Force, Washington DC, 7th September 1995.
Award certificate was dated 1st October 1995.
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PURPLE HEART
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Rank:
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2nd Lieutenant
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Unit:
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53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 453th Troop Carrier Group
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Details:
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According to his flight log, he recevied a second Purple Heart on or for activities on May 17th, 1945.
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EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL
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Rank:
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2nd Lieutenant
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Unit:
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53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 453th Troop Carrier Group
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Details:
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Received with arowhead for the airlandings in Normandy on June 6th, 1944 (Sainte-Mère-Église) and battlestars for the campaigns "SOUTHERN FRANCE" (GO 33 WD 1945), "NORMANDY" (GO 33 WD 1945), "ROME-ARNO" (GO 40 WD 1945), "ARDENNES" (GO 40 WD 1945), "CENTRAL EUROPE" (GO 40 WD 1945), "RHINELAND" (GO 40 WD 1945) and "NORTHERN FRANCE" (GO 40 WD 1945).
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Provide alterations or additional information |
| Picture source: |
- Vincent Carbone
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| Information source(s): |
- Letter of Injury Squadron C, 13th Replacement Control Depot, Office of the Surgeon, AAF Station 569, APO 149, US Army, 21 June 1944
- Military Record and Report of Seperation, Certificate of Service
- Bronze Star Award certificate
- Special Order GB-325, Department of the Air Force, Washington DC, 7th September 1995
- Flight Record
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