February 22, 1922 (Norwalk, CT) – August 17, 1944; 22 years old
Unmarried
Enlisted February 2, 1943
Last local address 25 Tierney Street, East Norwalk
Service number: 31313501
Unit: 225 Base Unit Combat Crew Training Squadron, Pierre Army Air Base, Pierre, South Dakota
Born to Pasquale A. “Patsy” (1895-1982) and Pasqualine “Nellie” LaMorte (1902-1987). Sister Theresa A. Lomazzo Spescha (1924-1985).
From Rapid City Journal, Rapid City, South Dakota, August 18, 1944
Pierre, Aug 18 – (AP) Six crew members of a B-17 Army bomber from the Rapid City army air base were killed at 10:30 p.m. last night when the plane crashed about six miles north of the Pierre Army Air Field. Three others of the crew bailed out it was reported and were hospitalized here. Witnesses said the bomber was burning before it crashed and that wreckage was strewn over an area of approximately four city blocks. W.R. McGibney, a farmer living near the scene, said the ship “looked like a ball of fire coming straight for the house. I thought it was going to hit the house but it turned and crashed a few seconds later. The flames were so intense it lighted up our whole house like daylight.” A weed fire ignited by the plane was extinguished after burning over a small area, McGibney said. Bodies of the six men who died in the crash were thrown clear of the plane, it was reported. The public relations officer at the RCAAB said late today that all the dead had not been identified and that next of kin had been notified. A board of qualified officers has been appointed to investigate the crash.
Crew members
2d Lt Arnold P. Sparmann; Secaucus, NJ
2d Lt Bob M. Biggers Jr.; Hampton, AR
2d Lt John F. Hanzes; Uniontown, PA
2d Lt Arthur M. Lippman; Brookline, MA
Sgt Samuel J. Lomazzo; Norwalk, CT
Cpl Frederick J. Breuning; Peru, IL
Parachuted safely
Cpl Harry F. Mroch; Detroit, MI (1924-2015)
Cpl Sidney Nylaan; Grand Rapids, MI (1925-2015)
Cpl George D. Honey; Sonoma, CA (1924-2011)
From The Norwalk Hour August 19, 1944
Sergeant Samuel J. Lomazzo of 25 Tierney Street, son of Mr. and Mrs. Patsy Lomazzo, was killed Thursday, in a plane crash in Rapid City, South Dakota. Besides his parents, he is also survived by one sister, Miss Theresa Lomazzo of Norwalk. Sergeant Lomazzo enlisted in the Army on February 10, 1942, he was stationed at Miami, from there went to Arizona, then to Texas, to Utah, and from there to South Dakota. He attended Roger Ludlow Junior High School and Norwalk High School. Before his enlistment, he was employed in Stamford at the Air Radio plant. He was home on furlough from June 25 to July 8. Funeral arrangements in charge of the A.J. Collins Company will be announced later.
Sgt Lomazzo is buried at St. John’s Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut; Section A1, Plot 193. Photos by webmaster.
END
Honor Norwalk CT veterans 