World War II Honoree

Sam Collura

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Lake Charles, Louisiana

Honored By

Andrew Lomonaco and Lawrence Lupo

Relationship

Cousins

ENLISTED FEBRUARY 1941 AT CAMP LIVINGSTON, LOUISIANA INTO THE ARMY AIR CORPS. ASSIGNED AND TRAINED TO BE A RADIOMAN AND .50 CALIBER MACHINE GUNNER; WAS PART OF THE CREW OF A B-17 FLYING FORTRESS BOMBER. FLEW FIRST TO ALGERIA, NORTH AFRICA. THE PLANE HE FLEW IN WAS OUTFITTED FOR AERIAL PHOTO RECONNAISSANCE MISSIONS. HE WAS EVENTUALLY ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH AIR FORCE, BASED IN ENGLAND. DURING ONE MISSION HIS PLANE AND RADIOS BECAME DISABLED. THE PILOTS FOUND A PLACE TO LAND BUT WERE UNABLE TO COMMUNICATE AT ALL. HIS FAMILY WAS NOTIFIED HE WAS MISSING IN ACTION. MANY DAYS LATER THE STILL CRIPPLED PLANE WITH ALL THE CREW RETURNED SAFELY TO THEIR BASE IN ENGLAND. HE WAS SEPARATED AT CAMP SHELBY, MISSISSIPPI; NOVEMBER 1945 AFTER 4+ YEARS OF SERVICE AS A STAFF SERGEANT. EARNED THE EUROPEAN-AFRICAN-MIDDLE EASTERN CAMPAIGN MEDAL AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.