World War II Honoree

Murad S. Piligian

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Indian Orchard, Massachusetts

Honored By

Nancy Barmakian

Relationship

Daughter

Enlisted as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Corps in October of 1942. He did his basic training in Syracuse, NY and gunnery and bombardier training in Laredo, Big Spring and El Paso Texas. He became a 1st lieutenant squadron bombardier in the 15th Airforce, 485th Bombardment Group, 828th Squadron. He flew twenty-six B-24 missions in the European theatre including strategic and tactical missions over Italy, Germany, Yugoslavia, Hungary and Romania, targeting oil fields, railways, and munitions factories. On April 10, 1945 he was asked to be lead bombardier for a special mission which was not with his normal unit. Forty-two B-24’s took off at 0853 hrs. to bomb a primary target in Italy, in support of ground offensives. The first attack unit was led by Major Harold Pruitt, with Murad on board as squadron bombardier. Forty aircraft were over the tactical target at 1219 hrs. dropping 86.28 tons of frag bombs from 22,000 feet. During this massive bombing effort, his aircraft was struck by ground based enemy anti-aircraft fire over Bologna Italy, shortly after releasing its bombs. A small fire started in the bomb bay, grew in size, and within minutes the aircraft exploded. Seven of the eleven crew on board were seen to leave the aircraft but only Murad, the nose gunner and pilot survived. Murad was captured outside Bologna in the Po River Valley. He was taken by German units to a Dulag Luft in Verona, a transit camp for German-captured members of the Air Force. He was then transferred by truck, rail and walking to Stalag VIIA in Moosburg, Germany. He spent one month as a POW until liberated by General Patton’s 3rd Army tank forces. He was repatriated to the United States through Reims, France, Camp Lucky Strike in St. Valery, France to Virginia. He was awarded a Purple Heart, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters for meritorious achievement in combat, and seven Battle Stars to the European Theatre Operation Ribbon.