![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.azuse.cloud\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/Michael-A.-Mancuso-Sr..jpg\" "\\"Mr.")
<\/a><\/center>\nFrom one of my countless hometowns, Oswego, NY where I finished college and put my kids through high school, comes the story of Michael A. Mancuso Sr., 89 <\/a>who died Saturday taking his secret to the grave with him.<\/p>\n
Mike was born and raised in Oswego. He served gallantly in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He served as a ball turret gunner in a B-24 Liberator in the 58th Air Division, 392nd Bomber Group, flying 40 flights out of Wending, England. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Distinguished Service Cross, Air Medal and the Oak Leaf Cluster. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Yeah, Home of Heroes doesn’t list him in their records of Distinguished Service Medal recipients<\/a>. Nor does the Distinguished Flying Cross Society<\/a> list him as a recipient of that medal.<\/p>\n
His military service was one of Mike\u2019s proudest times, and he loved telling his stories to anyone who would listen.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
“Stories” is an apt description.<\/p>\n
Thanks to AverageNCO for the link.<\/p>\n
Update (Sporkmaster)<\/strong><\/p>\n
I am currently waiting on additional info<\/a> from official group for the 392nd Bomber Group that is listed and his unit on the obituary about his awards. I found a photo of him in a crew photo<\/a> under the command of Lt. Fletcher. There is only one mention of Lt. Fletcher’s crew and Mancuso is not mentioned in that mission. <\/a><\/p>\n
\n26 Mar 1944 578th Sqdn.
\nA\/C 415<\/p>\nP Fletcher, R.E. 1st Lt.
\nCP McCarthy, C.G. 2nd Lt.
\nN Keck, R.W. 2nd Lt.
\nB Judd, G.W. 1st Lt. (KIA)
\nE Kelly, J.E. T\/Sgt.
\nR Biska, S.L. Sgt.
\nRW Osborne, J.H. Sgt.
\nLW Wukotich, M.L. S\/Sgt.
\nBT Mancuso, M.A. S\/Sgt.
\nTG McNiel, J.M. S\/Sgt.<\/p><\/blockquote>\nUpdate x2 (Sporkmaster)<\/strong><\/p>\n
I just got this reply from the 392th Group.<\/p>\n
According to our records, S\/Sgt Mancuso, a member of the 578th Sqdn,
\ncompleted 27 combat missions for the 392nd as well as 9 diversions or
\naborted missions for which he did not receive credit. This would have
\nentitled him to the Air Medal and four Oak Leaf Clusters.<\/p>\nBetween late December 1943 and late February 1944, S\/Sgt Mancuso and his
\ncrew were sent to the 93rd Bomb Group to be trained as a Path Finder Force
\ncrew. While there, Mancuso flew several combat missions with the 93rd BG.
\nI do not know if he flew enough missions to qualify for another Oak Leaf
\nCluster.<\/p>\nHe was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross upon successful completion of
\nhis combat tour. I have no information about his being awarded the
\nDistinguished Service Cross.<\/p>\nI have seen similar versions of the letter that Brig Gen Johnson wrote.
\nMancuso’s last mission was on 13 May 1944, and the letter was no doubt
\nintended to help him secure a good follow-up job in the Air Corps or in
\ncivilian life. Johnson referred to an enemy aircraft that Mancuso was
\ncredited with destroying; that was on 8 Oct 1943, when he shot down a JU-88.<\/p>\nS\/Sgt Mancuso was a member of the 2nd Air Division, not the 58th<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
![crew photo<\/a> under the command of Lt. Fletcher. There is only one mention of Lt. Fletcher’s crew and Mancuso is not mentioned in](\"http:\/\/www.b24.net\/aircrew\/Fletcher.jpg\"){kind=link}