Name:
John J. Fanelli
Rank:
Second Lieutenant
Serial Number:
O-696844
Unit:
91st Troop Carrier Squadron, 439th Troop Carrier Group
Date of Death:
1944-06-06
State:
Cemetery:
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, Missour
Plot:
84
Row:
25-31
Grave:
Decoration:
Comments:
2nd Lt John J. Fanelli, co-pilot of the Douglas C-47 42-93095, took off from Uppottery, UK on a personnel drop as part of Operation Albany. While over Sainte-Mere-Eglise the plane was hit by AA fire, causing one of the engines to burst into flames. The pilot tried to land the plane in a field by the RN13 but it clipped a hedgerow and exploded, killing everyone aboard. The wreck burned for three days. No bodies were ever found and vegetation hasn’t grown on the crash site to this day.