Philip (Felix) Joseph Colacino was born March 9, 1916 in Utica, NY to Antonio Colacino (1879-1964) and Theresa (Tessie) Tomaino (abt. 1879 – abt 1942). His parents were married in Italy sometime before coming to the United States in April 1905. He was the youngest of their four children which included Carmella (1900 - 1980), Joseph (1905-1989) and Stephen (abt. 1910-?). According to Census records his dad was a laborer for a general contractor. He was a Boy Scout and member of the Church of the Blessed Sacrament. By 1930 the family lived on Emily St. in Utica, NY. He graduated from Roosevelt School and Utica Free Academy (UFA) circa 1934. In the summer of 1939 he attended the Citizens Military Training Camp (CMTC) in Plattsburgh, NY. By 1940 Philip was the only child still at home. He was working as a machinist at a gun shop.

When he registered for the draft on October 16, 1940 in Utica, NY, he weighed 140 pounds and was 5'-9” tall. He had brown eyes and brown hair. He was working at Brant Brothers on Sunset Ave. in Utica, NY. Philip was drafted into the service on September 29, 1942 through Utica, NY with service number 32574551. He was 5'-8" tall and weighed 144 pounds. He reported being single with no dependents and having completed 4 years of high school. He gets his training in Atlantic City, New Jersey and Scott Field, Laredo, Texas before being trained as a gunner for a heavy bomber crew at the Army Air Base, Sioux City, Iowa. He was sent overseas in November 1943 and after seeing some action in North Africa joined the 701st Bombardment Squadron stationed at Tibenham (Station 124), England. In December 1943 he was promoted to T/Sgt. while at Tibenham.

T/Sgt. Colacino was killed "in the line of duty" on February 3, 1944. Local newspapers reported he was killed during the raid on Emden but military records are a bit unclear as to the circumstances surrounding his death. We do know it was in the line of duty. He was initially buried in the Cambridge Cemetery on February 5, 1944 and later, in July 1948, during the government's body recovery program, his remains were escorted home aboard the USAT Lawrence Victory and buried in the Calvary Cemetery, Utica, NY.

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).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

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

"CMTC Campers Designated Here", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, June 23, 1939, pg. 1 Second Section.

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/119297795/philip_j-colacino: accessed 13 Oct 2026), memorial page for Philip J. Colacino (1916–1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 119297795, citing Calvary Cemetery, Utica, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by Geanygal (contributor 48091759).

"Funeral Rites Listed for 2 Air Force Sergeants", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, July 26, 1948, pg. 18.

National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA; Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946; NAID: 1263923; Record Group Title: Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, 1789-ca. 2007; Record Group: 64; Box Number: 05342; Reel: 198

National Archives at College Park; College Park, Maryland, USA;Report No. 72: February 13, 1944; NAID: 28268235;Record Group 92: Records of the Office of the Quartermaster General; Series: General Correspondence Relating to Organizations; File Unit: 314.6 T/O (European) Weekly Burial Reports 66-85: 1944 [1 of 2]

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

Real Estate, The Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, April 30, 1913, pg. 3.

"Ship Carrying 9 Area Dead", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, July 5, 1948, pg. [illegible].

"Ship to Return 9 War Dead", Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, July 4, 1948, pg. 6-A.

"Utican Killed in Emden Raid", Utica Daily Press, date, pg. illegible, searched for "Colacino Tomaino" in Fultonhistory.com on October 14, 2026.

"Utican Killed in Raid; 'Briefed' by Film Star", Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, February 22, 1944, pg. 8.

WWII, Hospital Admission Card Files, 1942-1954, FOLD3, Ancestry, October 16, 2026. 

Year: 1920; Census Place: Utica Ward 8, Oneida, New York; Roll: T625_1245; Page: 8B; Enumeration District: 146

Year: 1930; Census Place: Utica, Oneida, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02862; Page: 9B; Enumeration District: 67-81

Supporting Documents