V4V-01-28-26-Paul J Cascio Jr-The Vic Porcelli ShowThis is the VIC 4 VETS, Weekly Honored Veteran.
SUBMITTED BY: Mike Franco, great-nephew of Paul Cascio
Paul J. Cascio, Jr.
Radio Operator B-17E "Flagship Texas No. VI / Strip-Straffer" 41-9207
Prisoner Of War (POW)
Wartime History
On May 14, 1942 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and joined the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) and was trained as a radio operator and sent overseas to the South West Pacific Area (SWPA). Assigned to the 43rd Bombardment Group (43rd BG) "Ken's Men", 65th Bombardment Squadron (65th BS) as a radio operator flying bombing missions in the South West Pacific Area (SWPA).
On June 1, 1943 at 10:10am took off from 7 Mile Drome near Port Moresby as radio operator aboard This B-17 was armed with bombs and intended to fly over both the northern and southern coasts.
2:10pm intercepted by a dozen A6M Zeros. This B-17 was quickly hit by gunfire that caused a fuel leak that ignited into a long flame that extended past the tail. Realizing the fire was out of control, the pilot ordered the crew to bail out as the wing was starting to disintegrate and began to angle downward in a dive.
Cascio delayed opening his parachute until he entered a cloud fearing he might be strafed by the Zeros. He descended safely and landed in trees with a Zero flying over him after he landed and hid for the rest of the day. Cascio walked to a local village where the Imperial Japanese Army (IJA) patrol emerged and captured him.
Prisoner Of War
As Prisoner Of War, he was taken aboard a boat to a nearby observation post.
On June 21, 1943 Cascio was tied and blindfolded and transported by boat to the Japanese Navy POW Camp at Rabaul operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Cascio became sick with malaria. On March 15, 1944 a group including Cascio was transported to work at the Ashio Copper Mine under the direction of the Imperial Japanese Army.
During early August 1945, an interpreter told the prisoners the U.S. had dropped two atomic bombs and if they dropped a third the Japanese had orders to kill all prisoners. On August 20, 1945 the POWs were no longer required to perform labor. On August 27, 1945 two U.S. planes overflew the camp and dropped supplies including cigarettes, soaps, magazines and other supplies. On August 29, 1945 there was another air drop with K rations, cigarettes, clothing and other items. On August 30, 1945 the air drop included a note saying it would not be long before they were liberated.
He was hospitalized in San Francisco then transported to Virgina. Finally, on October 27, 1945 he returned home. Soon afterwards, he married Wanda Eve Cascio.
Paul J. Cascio, Jr. passed away on January 29, 2006 at age 84. He is buried at Baltimore National Cemetery in Baltimore, MD at section P site 267.
________________________________________________________________
This Week’s VIC 4 VETS, Honored Veteran on NewsTalkSTL.
With support from our friends at:
Alamo Military Collectables, Gemini Wealth Group and H.E.R.O.E.S. CARE,Inc.
