• Douglas C-47 Skytrain

Date of birth:

June 9th, 1912 (Bridgeport/Connecticut, United States)

Date of death:

December 28th, 2003 (Shelton/Connecticut, United States)

Nationality:

American

Servicenumber 01 999 701/T-60568.

Ernest Alterio served as pilot with the 53rd Troop Carrier Wing, 75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group from January 6th, 1943 until November 16th, 1945. Between 1942 and July 10th, 1943 he received training as Glider Pilot at Grand Forks, North Dakota (1942 - 50 hrs preflight training), Fort Sumner, New Mexico (1942 - 20 hrs Basic glider), Stuttgard, Arkansas (January 1943 - 30 hrs), and advanced Glider Pilot training in Ardmore-Oklahoma, Bowman Field-Kentucky and Pope Field-North Carolina (April - July 1943). He left for Europe on October 21st, 1943, to arrive there on November 2nd. During the Normandy invasion he landed as co-pilot of a Horsa-glider near Sainte-Mère-Église. His plane smashed into a tree and Ernest Alterio was catapulted out of his cockpit and got injured. During his operational service he flew with the gliders Waco CG-4A and Horsa and on the motorised types Douglas C-47, Douglas C-53D, Aeronca L-3E, Stinson L-5 and Piper L-4. He left for the United States again on July 2nd, 1945 and arrived there on July 17th.

For the part of his unit in Operation Dragoon on August 15th, 1944, Ernest Alterio is entitled to wear the Distinguished Unit Badge in addition to his personal awards, by General Order No. 212 9th Air Force, 23rd August 1944.

Promotions:
5th January 1943: Staff Sergeant;
?: 2nd Lieutenant.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant

Unit:

75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces

Awarded on:

July 5th, 1944

General Order No. 33, IX TCC, 5th July 1944.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant

Unit:

75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces

Awarded on:

May 18th, 1945

Second Air Medal received as an oak leafcluster for on the ribbon of the first Air Medal.
General Order No. 71 9TCC 18 May 1945.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant

Unit:

75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces

Awarded on:

May 18th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant

Unit:

75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces

Awarded on:

June 18th, 1945

Awarded for:

Operation Neptune

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant

Unit:

75th Troop Carrier Squadron, 435th Troop Carrier Group, U.S. Army Air Forces

Awarded on:

November 16th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant

Unit:

Provisional Glider Pilot Company, 1st Squad, 1st Platoon, 194th Glider Infantry Regiment, 17th Airborne Division "The Golden Talons", U.S. Army

Awarded on:

September 7th, 1995

Awarded for:

Operation Varsity

Received for his part in the airlandings as First Pilot of a Waco CG-4A during Operation Varsity, March 24th, 1945 in the vacinity of Wesel, Germany

Special Order GB-325, Department of the Air Force, Washington DC, 7th September 1995.
Award certificate was dated 1st October 1995.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant

According to his flight log, he recevied a second Purple Heart on or for activities on May 17th, 1945.

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

2nd Lieutenant

Received with arowhead for the airlandings in Normandy on June 6th, 1944 (Sainte-Mère-Église) and battlestars for the campaigns "SOUTHERN FRANCE" (GO 33 WD 1945), "NORMANDY" (GO 33 WD 1945), "ROME-ARNO" (GO 40 WD 1945), "ARDENNES" (GO 40 WD 1945), "CENTRAL EUROPE" (GO 40 WD 1945), "RHINELAND" (GO 40 WD 1945) and "NORTHERN FRANCE" (GO 40 WD 1945).

• Photo 1: Vincent Carbone
• - Letter of Injury Squadron C, 13th Replacement Control Depot, Office of the Surgeon, AAF Station 569, APO 149, US Army, 21 June 1944
  - Military Record and Report of Seperation, Certificate of Service
  - Bronze Star Award certificate
  - Special Order GB-325, Department of the Air Force, Washington DC, 7th September 1995
  - Flight Record