Aviation Ordnanceman Anthony Di Pett
Posted on 07/08/2023 1:06:19 PM PDT by Kartographer
CNN CNN He was shot down in the Pacific Ocean in WWII. Almost 80 years later, his remains are finally home Story by Sara Smart • 8h ago
Almost 80 years after Anthony Di Petta’s plane was shot down by enemy fire in World War II and over 70 years after he was declared “non-recoverable,” he’s finally home.
The remains of the sailor arrived back in the US on Friday afternoon, according to an agency of the US Department of Defense.
Di Petta, from Nutley, New Jersey, served as a US Navy Aviation Ordnanceman during World War II, according to a news release from the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA).
The sailor, 24 at the time of his death, was born in Italy but immigrated to the US around 1921, according to a nonprofit called Project Recover, which took part in the recovery effort. He had enlisted in the US Navy by 1940.
(Excerpt) Read more at msn.com ...
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.
Post # 6 this thread
"Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep,
O hear us when we cry to thee
For those in peril on the sea!"
Navy Hymn
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
According to the Social Security Death Index, his father Sisto Dipetta died December 1967 in Nutley, NJ (born 28 July 1900), and his mother Filomena Dipetta died March 1983 in Nutley, NJ (born 29 Oct. 1896). Peter Dipetta, presumably the same person as his brother, died 17 Jan. 2010, Falmouth, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts (born 15 Nov. 1936). Possibly the sister is still alive, but if not either is listed under her married name or died after 2014 (the online index goes only to 2014). In any case Anthony may have living nephews or nieces.
Thanks Kartographer.
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