First Lieutenant John J. Chimenti

First Lieutenant John J. Chimenti

First Lt John J Chimenti (service number 0-818111) was killed in action over Fouches, Belgium on November 9, 1944 (his 33rd mission) while piloting his B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber on the Mission 223 bombing run (embarking from his base at Station 136, Knettishall, England) to the Marshalling Yards and Rail Facilities of Saarbrucken, Germany. His B17 Flying Fortress (christened: The Cicero Kid-commemorating his father's sister's family) was a member of the 388th Bomb Squadron, 8th Air Force of the US Army Air Force, 3rd Air Division, 45th Combat Wing, 563rd Bomb Squadron.

 

Over Fouches, engine #4 caught fire (from enemy gunfire) causing a violent explosion breaking the plane into three parts perishing him and his co Pilot, 1st Lt. James P. Clark. The other seven-crew members parachuted to safety. This was first of three additional missions he wanted to complete before being released.

 

His heroism, co Pilot and squadron are honored in a plaque (including pictures) on a monument at Arlon Military Barracks (Fouches) inaugurated by the Belgian citizens at the commemoration of the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge [December 12, 2009]. Its dedication focuses on all crews of the 8th and 9th US Army Air Forces that served to liberate Belgium during World War II.

 

John Joseph Chimenti was born on November 28, 1920 at 304 East Fifth Street, Erie, Pennsylvania to Rosina Filippo (1891-1964 and Natale Chimenti (1881-1964) (both immigrants from San Lucido, Italy). He was the youngest of seven siblings: Joseph (1909-1960, married Kathryn Herbo 1946-2003), Helena Margaret (1912-1991 married Giuseppe Alo, 1928), Albert (1913-2003, married Kathryn Lucille Wylie 1940), Armand (1915-1985, married Martha Daniels, 1940-1950; Irene Radziszewski -1952-2008), Ida Marie (1917- 1988, married Harold Clements, 1943), Yolanda (Helen 1919-1991, married Albert Scalise, 1947.

 

John J. Chimenti, an honor graduate of Class of 1938, Erie East High School, was awarded Stanford University Scholarship to study Civil Engineering. He played football at both schools. On January 12, 1940, he was accepted into Stanford's distinguished Kappa Sigma fraternity (the very first fraternity in USA). He enlisted in the US Army Air Corps on August 14, 1942. He is buried in Calvary Cemetery beside his parents .

 

Prepared June, 2016,by (nephew) Richard A. Alo', PhD, Dean, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University