World War II Honoree

Michael Joseph Missano

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

East Meadow, New York

Honored By

Bernadette Missano

Relationship

Daughter

SERVED IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER. HE WAS A POW IN GERMANY SEPTEMBER 1944 TO FEBRUARY 1945; FROM FEBRUARY TO MAY HE WAS PART OF THE DEATH MARCH. AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS, BRONZE STAR MEDAL, AIR MEDAL WITH 4 OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL WITH 3 BRONZE STARS, WWII VICTORY MEDAL, POW MEDAL, NEW YORK STATE CONSPICUOUS SERVICE CROSS WITH 1 GOLD AND 2 SILVER DEVICES, D-DAY MEDAL OF THE JUBILEE OF LIBERTY IN NORMANDY AND THE PURPLE HEART. SERVED WITH THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 389TH BOMBER GROUP 565TH SQUADRON. FLEW 30 MISSIONS. HE WAS A WAIST GUNNER ON THE 'BETTY JAMES' BASED IN ENGLAND.