Name:
Benedict E Vital
Rank:
Sergeant
Serial Number:
32462692
Unit:
718th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bomber Group
Date of Death:
1944-01-30
State:
New Jersey
Cemetery:
Holy Cross Cemetery North Arlington, Bergen C
Plot:
Blk-86 Sec-A Tr-C Gr-8 1A
Row:
Grave:
Decoration:
Air Medal and Purple Heart
Comments:
SGT Benedict E. Vital was born on November 14, 1920 and was from New Jersey. He was killed on January 30, 1944 while serving as a crew member (Gunner) on B-24 (42-7730) 718th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bomber Group, 47th Bomber Wing when his plane was shot down by an enemy fighter. B-24 (42-7730) was part of a large bombing raid on an airfield in Campoformido, Italy. On the return trip, the formation was attacked by enemy fighters and the plane was shot down with a complete loss of life. The plane crashed in Campolongo where the town placed a plaque in 2011 to remember the sacrifice of the crew.