World War II Honoree

Alfred W. Giacomini

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Sterling, Colorado

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

RANK: 1ST LIEUTENANT. HE WAS A UNITED STATES ARMY AIR CORPS FIGHTER PILOT, WHO FLEW THE BRITISH SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE FIGHTER. SERVED WITH THE 308TH FIGHTER SQUADRON, 31ST FIGHTER GROUP, U.S. 8TH ‘MIGHTY EIGHTH’ ARMY AIR FORCE. HIS SQUADRON WAS BASED AT THE ATCHAM ROYAL AIR FORCE STATION SHROPSHIRE ENGLAND, U.S. ARMY AIRFIELD STATION #342. ON MONDAY, JUNE 29, 1942 HE DIED OF INJURIES, WHEN HE CRASHED HIS SPITFIRE WHILE LANDING AT THE ATCHAM AIRDROME AND WAS BURIED IN THE MORTON PARISH CEMETERY LOCATED AT BLACKPOOL, LANCASTERSHIRE ENGLAND. HE HAD COMPLETED A COMBAT FIGHTER SWEEP TRAINING MISSION ALONG THE ENGLISH CHANNEL AND WAS IN THE LANDING PATTERN, ON FINAL APPROACH WHEN THE MISHAP OCCURRED. AFTER THE CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES IN EUROPE, HIS REMAINS WERE RETURNED TO HIS COUNTRY AND FAMILY, WITH INTERMENT IN THE RIVERSIDE CEMETERY, STERLING, COLORADO. HE WAS THE FIRST PILOT FATALITY OF THE 8TH AIR FORCE IN WWII.