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Baffaro, Louis

Louis Baffaro U.S. Army Air Corps WWII
Louis Baffaro U.S. Army Air Corps WWII


 
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Date of Birth: 7/26/1918
Died On: 11/8/2006 Last Residence: 27609 Raleigh, Wake, North Carolina
Street Address: 26 Meadow St.
Service Number: unknown
Branch of Service: U.S. Army Air Corps-WWII


Veteran Code: USAAC-8


BIOGRAPHY
 
Louis Baffaro

Louis Baffaro was born on July 26, 1918, in Rye, New York, to Rose Marie Cavuto, age 29, and Joseph Baffaro, age 30. He had two brothers Daniel and Nicholas and two sisters philomena and Rose.

In Rye his family lived at 397 Midland Ave and were members of the Church of the Resurrection. Louis was a Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1937. In High school he belonged to various clubs , played varsity football and was a member of the National Honor Society.

He then graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy NY as an electrical engineer.

Louis served as an officer in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a second lieutenant in the Army Air Force a navigator on a B-17 Flying Fortress in the 8th Air Force 398th Bomb Group


The 398th BG entered combat in May 1944, and until V-E Day operated primarily against strategic objectives in Germany, attacking targets such as factories in Berlin, warehouses in Munich, marshalling yards in Saarbrücken, shipping facilities in Kiel, oil refineries in Merseburg, and aircraft plants in Münster.

The group temporarily suspended strategic missions to attack coastal defenses and enemy troops on the Cotentin Peninsula during the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944.

The group struck gun positions near Eindhoven in support of the air attack on Holland in September 1944, and raided power stations, railroads, and bridges during the Battle of the Bulge, December 1944 – January 1945. The group flew missions attacking airfields to aid the Allied assault across the Rhine in March 1945.

Louis was awarded the Air Medal for "meritorious achievement" while participating in sustained combat operations -over enemy occupied continental Europe it was announced by the Commanding General of the Eighth Air Force.

The citation read In part: “The courage coolness and skill displayed by this officer upon these occasions reflect great credit upon himself and the Armed Forces of the United States ’



After the war, Louis was employed by IBM and with his family moved to Raleigh in 1968 then retired in 1984. He was an active member of St Raphael Church, Knights of Columbus 4th degree, IBM Retirees Club, charter member of TIARA 55 Plus Club, treasurer of NC 8th Air Force Historical Society, and a retired member of the board of directors of Coastal Federal Credit Union.



Louis Baffaro 88 went peacefully to be with the Lord on November 8 2006

He was predeceased by his parents , his brother Daniel Baffaro and sister Phyllis Skane - At the time of his dath, he was survived by his beloved wife Matea San Giovanni Baffaro, daughter Josette Beller and husband Rick, grandchildren Kristen, David Jr, Lauren Joseph, Christopher and Anna Beller. He was also survived by his brother Nicholas Baffaro and wife Carlene of Canton NY sister Rose DeLago and husband Louis of Port Chester NY and many nieces and nephews



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