Original image Utica Observer Dispatch, Utica, NY January 1944. Enhanced by ChatGPT "colorize and sharpen World War 2 Era Air Force"
Embedded Files
1st Lt. Alfred A. Amann
513th Bomber Squadron, 376th Bomber Group, Heavy
Alfred A. Amann was born August 10, 1921 to John Joseph Amann (1893-1955) and Rose Mary Iffert (1896-1973). His parents were married on August 30, 1919 in Utica, NY. and they were both from the area, growing up together. His dad served in World War I and after years of hard work and saving owned an operated his own bakery in the Utica, NY area. He had younger brothers Edward (1924-1944) and Richard (abt. 1929). Edward was killed in action July 26, 1944 in France. The family lived on Brinckerhoff Ave. in Utica, NY and then Dudley Ave. He went to St. Mary parochial school through 8th grade and then attended and graduated from Utica Free Academy (UFA) in 1939.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp on Oct. 12, 1939 and after graduation from Roosevelt Field Aviation School he was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone and the British West Indies as a mechanic. By 1940 he had returned to the states and was at Mitchell Field. In June 1940 he was able to get home on a furlough. He was a Private at the time. Sometime between June 1940 and October 1943 he becomes and officer and was commissioned a pilot in October 1943 at the Columbus Mississippi Army Air Field. He was sent overseas in June 1944. His new service number was O-812529.
On August 6, 1944 1st Lt. Amann was piloting "Vivienne" a Douglas-Tulsa B-24H Liberator bomber serial number #41-28965 on their 20th combat mission to bomb submarine pens in Toulon Harbor, France when they were hit by enemy flax causing the plane to eventually explode. Five of the nine crew were killed including Lt. Amann. He received the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster posthumously.
Author's Note: The Missing Air Crew Report has testimony from witnesses and surviving crew that give the details of that day. A transcript of S/Sgt. Tommy Scott's letter is below in the Supporting Document section.
This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.
(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).
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If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.
SBTSProject/New York/Oneida
Sources
"2 More Uticans Killed, 3rd Missing in Action", Utica Observer-Dispatch, Aug 21, 1944, pg. illegible.
American Air Museum in Britain website search at https://www.americanairmuseum.com/archive?fulltext=O-812529 on Sept. 1, 2025.
Alphabetical Master Cards, 1942–1947; Series VI, Card Files—Bureau of War Records, Master Index Cards, 1943–1947; National Jewish Welfare Board, Bureau of War Records, 1940–1969; I-52; boxes 273–362. New York, New York: American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History.
American Battle Monuments Commission; Arlington, VA; Cemetery Records
Ancestry.com. New York, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1847-1849, 1907-1936 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
"Awards Given at Army Air Base", The Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, March 2, 1945, pg. 11
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56510396/alfred_a-amann: accessed September 1, 2025), memorial page for 1LT Alfred A Amann (10 Aug 1921–6 Aug 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56510396, citing Rhone American Cemetery and Memorial, Draguignan, Departement du Var, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France; Maintained by DBT (contributor 46622280).
Missing Air Crew Report (MACR), Report # 7317, 1944, Air Craft serial number 41-28965, pg. 1-47.
"Pvt. Edward J. Amann, 19, Ex-RAAF Worker, is Killed", Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, August 9, 1944, pg. 4
Year: 1930; Census Place: Utica, Oneida, New York; Page: 3A; Enumeration District: 0130; FHL microfilm: 2341356
Year: 1940; Census Place: Utica, Oneida, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02862; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 67-70A
Year: 1940; Census Place: Hempstead, Nassau, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02687; Page: 20A; Enumeration District: 30-132
Supporting Documents
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