Aviation Ordnanceman Anthony Di Pett
Welcome home, Sailor....I salute you!!!!!
It was a long cruise but at last he is home!
Grumman Avenger (TBF/TBM) would have been the rear turret gunner
RIP Sailor .......
RIP and blessings to one of the greatest generation.
In September 1944, Di Petta and two other crew members were on a mission to conduct air strikes against Japanese forces in the Palau Islands.
The aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed into the water of Malakal Harbor.
Di Petta’s remains were unable to be found at the time.
Several more searches for the downed aircraft were unsuccessful and Di Petta was declared “non-recoverable”
in July 1949.
But from 2003 to 2018, Project Recover and the DPAA conducted joint investigations that eventually identified the crash site.
Project Recover executed a total of 14 dives up to 112 feet deep to identify the aircraft.
In August 2021, the nonprofit recovered the remains of multiple missing service members from the site,
including those of Di Petta.
Indeed! Welcome Home, Sailor, Rest in Peace, thank you for your Service to our Country and your sacrifice!
I second that. I salute Aviation Ordnanceman Anthony Di Petta. your mission has been completed.
PING.
I don’t read MSN or CNN. Bad writing. Hard to find facts.
How did they find his remains?
Hand Salute. Fair Winds and following Seas.
I have an uncle still not found after being shot down over the Solomon Islands. Happiness for bringing another hero home!
I hate to be a Debbie Downer but any evidence of the earthly remains of Mr Di Petta have been long gone. I expect most fabrics have long since deteriorated as well. Probably his dog tags and shoes remain.
From various sites I’ve learned that in as little as one year in the ocean there simply isn’t anything left, not even bone as the ocean is very efficient at reclaiming the elements of the human body.
With that said it’s good to know the final resting place of Aviation Ordnanceman Anthony Di Petta is now known and any family still living who might have remembered him have some consolation.
And the sailor home from the sea.
Welcome home, airman.
There were 5 in the family. The "Head" was Sisto, age 39, born in Italy, with his wife Filomena, age 42, also born in Italy. The three children were Anthony, son, Christine, daughter, and Peter, son.
There is none of the usual information about Anthony as to age, race, marital status or place of birth. Instead there is a note from the census taker on that line:
"I had to return for enumeration when I returned I was told this son is in the U.S. Navy"
Aviation Ordnanceman Anthony Di Pett