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Senast redigerad av Ördög 2024-03-04 kl. 16:59.
Senast redigerad av Ördög 2024-03-04 kl. 16:59.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, the young Muscarello, also to obtain American citizenship more quickly, enlisted in the Navy. On the eve of August 1945 he was stationed in New York when the admiral who commanded his ship announced the Armistice had taken place and gave many sailors free leave as a reward. That morning, out of joy, he told several times Muscarello had drunk a few too many beers and when he saw the nurse he felt like kissing her spontaneously. He never imagined becoming a symbol of peace. After the war, he became a New York Police officer and, once retired, enjoyed retirement with his second wife in Florida.
On the morning of Dec. 7, 1941, Cale had just gone off duty after an overnight shift as a hospital corpsman at the Pearl Harbor dispensary when he heard gunfire and saw puffs of smoke. At first he thought it was surprise training exercise, then he realized that the aircraft overhead were Japanese and the attack was for real. On his own initiative, Cale broke into an arms locker to get rifles for himself and several other sailors, an unauthorized act for which he was initially told he'd be court-martialed but was later commended for.Cale tjänstgjorde hela kriget ut, bland annat vid Guadalcanal, och var också med i Korea och Vietnam. Efter att ha lämnat arbetslivet gjorde han volontärjobb vid besökscentret i Pearl Harbor, pratade med skolbarn, och signerade exemplar av sin memoarbok som bär den anspråkslösa titeln A True American: The Story of a Pearl Harbor Survivor, World War II, Korean and Vietnam War Veteran.
Cale also distinguished himself by commandeering a small boat and leading two other sailors in pulling survivors — and the dead and dying — from among the patches of burning oil in the harbor. Cale's training as a diver then got him assigned to the team that spent several days removing human remains from the sunken wreck of the USS Arizona.
Cecil was then sent on to New Guinea and flew missions with the Americans. The Americans moved north up into the Philippines by the end of 1944 and the Australians were left with the containment job. Cecil received a Mention in Despatches on 14th January 1944. He was awarded the DFC.https://issuu.com/rafnews/docs/raf_n..._2024_issuu/17
On the 24th July 1943, the crew flew its first ‘op’ to Hamburg and the following winter flew to Berlin eight times, during the so-called ‘Battle of Berlin’. After an interview with Wing Commander Leonard Cheshire, the crew joined 617 Squadron in January 1944 in a bid to stay together.https://www.telegraph.co.uk/obituari...ambusters-war/
John and his crew were involved in a number of dangerous operations including attacks on viaducts, a railway tunnel, ‘V’-weapon sites, and E-boat and U-boat pens, as well as the Squadron’s vital contribution to the D-Day invasion, all the more poignant with the 80th anniversary taking place this June.
In an interview with the Fund before his passing, John said: “It’s important that the men of Bomber Command are remembered for their role in D-Day. Bomber Command was a crucial part of the operation behind the lines in bombing rail tunnels and other installations which would prevent the supply of reinforcements to the invasion area. Our involvement was terribly important for the success of the operation and to be involved was a great honour for the Squadron.”
When John had completed a total of 50 ‘ops’ he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and allowed to step back from operations.
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Swish: 123 536 99 96 Bankgiro: 211-4106