The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-16
VFW Auxiliary Plans Reception For National President
NEWS OF MEN NV THE SERVICE

Atc Air Base, Marrakech-S/Sgt. Joseph R. Sloss, son of Mir. and Mrs. George Sloss, 330 Willow strett. Waterbury. Conn.,, is per- forming duties as a crew chief in the aircraft engineering section of this base unit, commanded by It. Colonel Rollen H. Anthis, of the North African Division, Air Trans port Command.
 Sgt. Sloss received training at the New England Aircraft School, Boston, Mass, and at the Chevrolet plant in Detroit, Mich, where he was given an engine specialist course. Shipping overseas over two years ago in February, 1943, Sgt. Sloss has been stationed for the most part at this base, except for tour of duty performed at Tin douf, Algeria, one of the isolated desert spots in NAFD.
 He attended Driggs grammer school and Crosby High school, both in Waterbury, and prior to entering the service was employ ed as a machinist for the Water bury Tool Co.,, East Aurora street.
 Sgt. Sloss is married to the former Olive Margaret Crochet of Water bury and they have a daughter, Marguerite Ruth, two years old.
 With A 18th AAF B-25 Group In The Mediterranean Theater-Flying as a radio operator and gunner on BPS Billy Mitchell bomber Dona- to, Masi, Watertown, Conn, has been promoted to the grade of staff ser- geant.
 Sergeant Masi is a member of a veteran medium bombardment group which has been overseas 30 months and holds the Army Air Force re- cord for both medium and heavy bomb groups.
 Leaving the states in November, 1914, he is flying combat missions against German-held targets in northern Italy.
 Prior to coming overseas he at tended radio school at Scott Field, H., and received his gunner's wings at Yuma, Ariz. He furthered his combat training at Greenville, s. c.
 He is entitled to wear the Euro pean African Middle East theater ribbon and the Distinguished Unit Badge signifying he is a member of a group that has been cited by the War Department.
 His parents, MT. and Mrs. Charles Masi, lives on French street. 18th AAF in Italy-Two Water- bury, Conn, aerial gunners have arrived overseas and taken up their duties on the same 18th AAF B-24 Liberator bomber crew.
 The airmen are: Cpl. Richard J. Budd, of 30 Laural street, tail gunner; and, Cpl. Pasquale E. Cop polo, 19, of 27 w. Porter street, a nose gunner. The men have been assigned to veteran group which is blasting vital enemy lines of sup ply in support of Russian armies striking through Hungary and Czechoslovakia.
 The son of MT. and Mrs. Walter L. Budd, Cpl. Budd was employed by the Scovill Mfg. Co.,, prior to his entrance into the service July 16 1943. His wife. Mrs. Eunice M. Budd resides at Wheeler avenue. Cpl. Coppolo is the son of MT. and Mrs. Sdward Schelevitz who re- side at the Porter street address. Prior to entering the Air Forces by enlistment last May 18th, he was employed by the Phelps Oil Go.
 18th AAF In 1taly-T-Sgt. Mau- rice Chris Fitzgerald. son of MT. and Mrs. M. G. Fitzgerald, 854 Frost road, Waterbury, Conn, has flown 47 missions against the enemy. He is radio-operator- gunner on a B-24 Liberator.
 Sgt. Fitzgerald has participated in missions against Germany, Austria, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and Romania. He is 8 member of the oldest heavy bombardment group in the Mediterranean theater. This unit, commanded by Colonel Robert H. Warren, Yankton, s. D.. has been cited as a distinguished unit. On his first mission he flew to Budapest, Hungary.
 This airman was graduated from Crosby High School in 1942. Before he entered the army, April P, l943, he was employed by the Post Office Department. He attended radio school at Sioux Falls, s. D., and re- ceived his wings at the gunnery school at Yuma, Ariz.
 Sgt. Fitzgerald has been awarded the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters. He also wears the Distin- guished Unit Badge and the Europe African-Middle East theater ribbon