Nick Gavalas was born on March 13, 1923, in Birmingham, Jefferson County, Alabama. He was the son of George N. Gavalas and Theodora T. Gavalas. He graduated from Ramsey High School in 1940 and later registered for the draft in Birmingham on June 30, 1942, while employed by the George Gavalas Produce Company. On January 20, 1943, he entered the U.S. Army at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He served in the 718th Bomber Squadron, 449th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Armorer-Gunner of B-24 #41-29217 during World War II.

On January 30, 1944, B-24 Liberator 41-29217 departed its base at Grottaglie, Italy, on a bombing mission against the German-held airfield at Udine in northern Italy. After completing the bombing run, the formation came under heavy attack from German fighters and anti-aircraft fire. The B-24 was severely damaged during the engagement and was observed losing altitude with its right wing burning as enemy fighters continued their attacks. Unable to remain with the formation, the crippled bomber descended toward the northern Adriatic coast and eventually crashed on Morgo Island in the Grado Lagoon, near Grado, Italy. Of the ten airmen aboard, nine were killed, while Staff Sergeant Harvey Gann was the sole survivor and was taken prisoner by German forces.

SSgt Gavalas was killed in action, and his remains were initially listed as missing. For more than eight decades following the loss of his aircraft, his fate remained unresolved. On June 10, 2026, the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency officially accounted for Staff Sergeant Nick Gavalas. His name is permanently inscribed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Florence American Cemetery, while his final resting place remains unknown.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, www.dpaa.mil, 449th Bombardment Group Historical Association, www.fold3.com,weremember.abmc.gov