World War II Honoree

John Anthony Napoli

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

Dan Schell

Relationship

Nephew

He served as a B-24 Pilot in the 15th Air Force, and was attached to the 456th Bomb Group operating out of Italy. He flew a total of 33 missions, and was shot down on his last mission and held prisoner at German Stalag Luft 1, until liberated by the Russian Army in the Spring of 1945. Upon his capture he was considered a spy and went before a firing squad Christmas Day 1944, however the Stalag Commander commuted his sentence because it was Christmas.