The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-07-10


 and Mrs. Dennis Reardon, 865 Cooke street, Waterbury Conn, was grad- uated today from the B-23 Libera- tor bomber mechanics school here and is now ready for active line duty.
 Pvt. Reardon, however, may be sent to a factory school for further specialized training or to one of the Army Air Forces Training Com- mand's flexible gunnery schools to become an aerial gunner.
 In the course of approximately 17 weeks here, he learned about air. plane mechanics tools, electric and hydraulic systems, instruments, pro- pellers, fuel systems, engine opera ton and aircraft inspection. The last eight days were spent at Fort Lib- erator", a branch of the school where he learned to perform nain- tenance work on aircraft under sim- ulated battle conditions.
 18th AAF Tn Italy-"I was pretty tense when we neared the target the first time. guess we heard too many stories before we went up, and didn't know what to look for" stated Sgt. Armand LaFrance, 20, son of MT end Mrs. Henry LaFrance, 900 Bald- win street, Waterbury, Conn, as he returned from his first mission. We sure made 1t rough on those Jer- ries down there when we let our bombs go, and that's when was glad I was in the plane" Sgt. La- France had just returned from his first mission, over Livno, Yugosla- via, where they bombed enemy troop concentrations.
 T just felt like closing my eyes when we strengthened out for the bomb run. When I heard the pilot call bombs away, felt big thrill, and just watched those bombs go all the way down. I guess Q fellow is scared and thrilled at the same time"
 Sgt. LaFrance is a left waist gum ner in a 18th AAF Liberator bom- bardment group which has taken a large part in successful attacks or many important Nazi installations such as the devastation of the ME- 10o factories at Bad Voslau, for which outstanding performance special commendation was received from higher headquarters. Other targets hit have included the oil fields of Ploesti, Romania, defenses on the road to Rome, airdrome and marshalling yards in Italy, France Romania, Austria and Yugoslavia He entered the service on July l5 1943, and received, gunnery train- ing at Tyndall Field, Fla.
 Four sons of MT. and Mrs. K Haddad of no Baldwin street are in the service. Fred is spending a fur- tough here from Toledo, Oho, where he is a mail clerk with an ordnance departmnet. His wife, the former Ethel Kallas, and son live at l3s Cherry street. George is stationed at Mountain Home, Idaho. Nicholas Is serving in the South Pacific. Ameen is a pharmacists mate, third class with a Marine unit n the Central Pacific.
 Private William A. Donston oi Watertown is receiving training as radio operator-mechanic at the Sioux Falls Army Air Field, s. D
 Ralph v. Tremaglio of 1853 Bank street has been given the rating oi motor machinists' mate, third class at the Naval Training School al Ames, Iowa, where he recently com- pleted a course. He entered the Navy in March.
 Staff Sergeant Joseph Marcelonis of Ward street is attending gum nery school in England. He re- turned to this country last fall af- ter serving a year in England and again volunteered for overseas duty He is holder of the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal, and two Oak Leaf Clusters. He was a ball turret gunner on a Fortress which participated in 25 missions over enemy land.
 Captain John s. Evans of Water town is serving in France, according to word received here.