World War II Honoree

James V. Pollicita

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Bridgeport, Connecticut

Honored By

Jerry Penry

RANK: SERGEANT. SERVED AS A RADIO OPERATOR OF A B-17 ‘FLYING FORTRESS’ BOMBER, WHO WAS KILLED AUGUST 17, 1943 ALONG WITH SEVEN CREWMEMBERS WHO WERE BASED AT THE KEARNEY ARMY AIR FIELD, KEARNEY, NEBRASKA. THE AIRCRAFT, ON A LOCAL FAMILIARIZATION TRAINING FLIGHT WAS OBSERVED TO HAVE AN ENGINE FIRE (NEVER CONFIRMED) AND WAS FLYING AT A LOW ALTITUDE WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. THE BOMBER (APPARENTLY OUT OF CONTROL) STALLED OUT WHILE IN A STEEP BANK AND DOVE INTO THE GROUND, CRASHING INTO A CORNFIELD NEAR WOOD RIVER, NEBRASKA.