Flight Engineer United States Army Air Forces WWI
Early Life
John Volpe was born on June 22, 1911 in western Pennsylvania to Nicola Volpe and Rosina Apone, both immigrants from Prignano, Italy. In 1910, John’s father was working in a coke yard—demanding, dangerous labor that supported the region’s steel industry. By 1917, the family was living in Loyalhanna, Pennsylvania, alongside siblings and extended relatives and operating a general store.
Entering World War II
When the United States entered World War II, John was already in his early thirties—older than many new recruits. ohn enlisted in the U.S. Army on August 12, 1942, leaving behind his parents, siblings, and the familiarity of home. His draft card described him as 5'4", 168 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair—simple details that now help us picture the man our family knew. John's younger brother, Lewis, desperately wanted to follow in the footsteps of his brother and enlist; however, Lewis was medically disqualified due to an old football agency and served throughout the war in the civil service.
John Volpe 1943
Over the next 21 months, John completed intensive training across the country, moving through bases in Ohio, Florida, Mississippi, Tennessee, Colorado, and Kansas. Training for B-29 crews was intense and dangerous even before combat. Crews were required to fly long-range missions, including open-ocean flights over the Caribbean, radar bombing exercises, formation flying, and gunnery training. Completing at least one 3,000-mile nonstop flight was required before deployment—an enormous challenge that tested both skill and endurance.
Service as a Flight Engineer
John served as a flight engineer, a critical role aboard the B-29. He was responsible for monitoring and managing engines, fuel systems, hydraulics, and overall aircraft performance—allowing the pilots to focus on flying and combat operations.
By March 1945, John arrived at North Field, Guam, a massive and still-developing base that served as a launch point for missions over Japan.
He was assigned to the 43rd Squadron, 29th Bomb Group, 314th Wing, 20th Air Force. His aircraft, B-29 #33, was known as the Battlin’ Boomerang, and he flew multiple missions with the same crew.
The Final Mission
In the early hours of April 14, 1945, John and his crew departed on a bombing mission over Tokyo. Radio silence was maintained. Six B-29 bombers took part, each carrying ten crew members.
John was assigned to Crew Number 5.
The Fritschel Crew - John Volpe is in the middle of the bottom row.
During the mission, John's aircraft was shot down over Tokyo—either by enemy aircraft or anti-aircraft fire. There were no survivors.
Four men from other crews survived capture and were imprisoned by Japanese forces, only to perish weeks later during U.S. firebombing raids on Tokyo. One man was rescued and flown back to the United States.
Notification and Personal Effects
Word of John’s death reached home weeks later by telegram.
On October 30, 1945, John’s father, Nicola Volpe, received his son’s remaining personal effects. They included $27.73, clothing, personal items, and small tokens of daily life—ordinary objects that carried extraordinary weight.
Promotions and Honors
John was promoted during his service:
Private First Class – November 1, 1944
Corporal – January 5, 1945
Sergeant – April 16, 1945 (posthumous)
His unit, the 29th Bomb Group, earned multiple Distinguished Unit Citations and other honors, reflecting the heavy cost and significance of their service.
Remembered With Pride
John Volpe was 33 years old when he died in combat. He never married and had no children, but he was a beloved son, brother, and uncle. His absence was deeply felt by his parents and siblings, who carried his memory for the rest of their lives. A grave marker for John, rests at my grandfather's grave in Green Haven Memorial Gardens in Canfield, Ohio.
Our family hopes that someday John's remains will be found and he can be laid to rest near his siblings.
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