World War II Honoree

Salvatore Richard Gibilaro

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

Mrs. Claudette M. Pilotti

Relationship

Daughter

TECHNICAL MASTER STAFF SERGEANT IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS (1943-1946). HE SERVED FOR 1 1/2 YEARS IN FLORIDA, MISSISSIPPI AND NORTH CAROLINA AS A RADAR TECHNICIAN AND 1 1/2 YEARS OVERSEAS AS A STATISTICAL LOGISTICIAN IN THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA THEATRE IN THE 39TH STATISTICAL CONTROL UNIT AT HASTINGS AIR BASE IN CALCUTTA, INDIA. AT HASTINGS AIR BASE, HE WORKED IN THE SUPPLY SERVICE OPERATIONS TO DEVELOP AN EFFICIENT SUPPLY SYSTEM AFTER THE DESTRUCTION OF THE CHINA-BURMA-INDIA TRADE ROUTE BY THE JAPANESE IN WWII. HIS UNIT EXPANDED THE PORT CAPACITY OF KARACHI AND CALCUTTA AND DEVELOPED TECHNIQUES OF AIR SUPPLY TO SUPPORT AMERICAN AND CHINESE FORCES IN THE RUGGED TERRAIN OF NORTH BURMA. THE 39TH STATISTICAL UNIT WAS COMMENDED WITH THE MERITORIOUS SERVICE AWARD BY MAJOR GENERAL THOMAS J. HANLEY, JR., COMMANDING GENERAL OF BOTH ARMY AIR FORCES AND AIR SERVICES COMMAND FOR THE UNIT'S CLOSELY CONTROLLED REPORTING SYSTEM, WHICH GUARANTEED A HIGH STANDARD OF ANALYTICAL ACCURACY.