World War II Honoree

Carl F. Casella

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Chicago, Illinois

Honored By

Mary & Aida; Joan Buzzard

Relationship

Sisters and Central IL Honor Flight Guardian

AVIATION MACHINIST'S MATE 3RD CLASS, PROUDLY SERVED IN THE U.S. NAVY FROM FEBRUARY 1943 TO NOVEMBER 1945. HE EARNED A BATTLE STAR FOR HIS SERVICE ABOARD THE USS SARATOGA (CV-3). SERVED ABOARD THE SHIP FROM JULY 1944 TO NOVEMBER 22, 1945. HE WAS PART OF THE SHIP'S COMPANY, AND SERVED AS A PLANE CAPTAIN IN THE AIR DEPARTMENT. HIS DUTIES CONSISTED OF MAINTAINING THE PLANES AS THE SQUADRONS LANDING ON THE SHIP. UPON LANDING, HE WAS ASSIGNED A PARTICULAR PLANE WHEREBY HE WOULD PERFORM ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND CHECK THE ENTIRE AIRCRAFT FOR ANY DEFECTS/DAMAGES. ON FEBRUARY 21, 1945, THE SHIP WAS ATTACKED BY FIVE KAMIKAZES. ONE OF THE PLANES HIT ON THE STARBOARD SIDE OF THE SARATOGA, CRASHING THROUGH TO THE HANGER DECK. HE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF SENDING HIS PLANE DOWN TO THE HANGER WHEN HE WAS STOPPED AT THE ELEVATOR AND TOLD THE HANGER WAS FULL. AS A RESULT, HE REMAINED ON DECK WITH HIS PLANE AND WAS NOT IN THE HANGER WHEN THE KAMIKAZES CRASHED INTO IT, KILLING 123 SERVICEMEN THAT DAY.