STAFF SERGEANT ANTHONY FRANK “HANK” DIBERARDINE; U.S. ARMY AIR FORCE

November 25, 1922 (Malden, MA) – October 11, 1944; 21 years old
Unmarried
Last local address: 9 Crescent Terrace and 71 Spring Street, South Norwalk
Enlisted on November 12, 1942
Service number: 11102173
Unit: 388th Bomber Group, 389th Bomber Squadron
MIA

Awarded the Air Medal two times.

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From The Norwalk Hour October 11, 1944

Fifth Air Force, Southwest Pacific — Anthony F. DiBerardine, an aerial gunner serving with the “Roarin’ 20’s”, an A-20 bomb unit of the Fifth Air Force in the Southwest Pacific, has been promoted to Staff Sergeant. He lived at 71 Spring Street, South Norwalk, Connecticut. Sgt DiBerardine entered the Air Force in November 1942 and joined the “Roarin’ 20’s” early this year. He has flown 45 combat missions in this theater, and is playing an important role in knocking out Jap air power in the Southwest Pacific. The “Roarin’ 20’s” were activated in October 1942 and since arriving overseas have distinguished themselves in combat.

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From The Norwalk Hour October 25, 1944

Word has been received that Staff Sergeant Anthony DeBardine of Spring Street has been reported missing “somewhere in New Guinea” on October 11th. He is the son of Carlo DeBardine of Darien, Connecticut. SSgt DeBardine or “Hank” as his friends called him, is well known in Norwalk, and had taken part in several important missions in the Pacific Area. He had been decorated several times. Only recently Sgt DeBardine mentioned that he had a few missions to complete, and then he expected to come home for the first time in two years. DeBardine enlisted in the Army Air Corps on November 12, 1942. Upon completion of his training as an aerial gunner, he went overseas. From the time he enlisted he had never been home on a furlough. Before entering the service, he was employed at Edward and Company.

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Anthony was a Passenger on B-25D “Five Minutes To Midnight” #41-30525, 389th Bomber Squadron, 312th Bomber Group, U.S. Army Air Force. B-25D #41-30525 was transporting airmen, who were eligible to be rotated back to the United States, and took off from Hollandia Airfield on a flight bound for Nadzab Airfield, New Guinea. Anthony was declared “Missing In Action” when this B-25 never reached the Nadzab Airfield.

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Airmen who perished on this flight:

Anthony, Richard J ~ TSgt, Passenger, PA
Brockhouse, Albert G ~ SSgt, Radio Operator, IL
Di Berardine, Anthony F ~ SSgt, Passenger, CT
Eddy, Albert C ~ 1st Lt, Pilot, IA
Emery, George H ~ SSgt, Passenger, MA
Mac Elveen, James W ~ SSgt, Crew Chief, NY
Marcus, Arthur J ~ Sgt, Passenger, NY
McKenna, John J ~ Sgt, Passenger, OH
Preston, Ralph D ~ FO, Co-Pilot, OK
Schnell, Sidney ~ Sgt, Passenger, NY
Shearin, Thomas R ~ SSgt, Passenger, PA
Weiss, Nevin S ~ SSgt, Passenger, NY

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From pacificwrecks.com

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Memorialized at Sea Tablets of the Missing at Manila American Cemetery Manila, Philippines