I am trying to find out any information about Lucia Calcagni and the burial of my cousin Lt Neill S. Walker. He was shot down and killed on Dec 15, 1943 near the village of Arce, Italy. His body was recovered by Lucia Calcagni and other towns people and placed into a grave near his crashed fighter.

I have found the following:

Lucia F. Calcagni
Born 12 Dec 1905
Died 12 Jan 1905
Last Residence Winthrop, ME

What information (specifically) on Lucia, are you searching for? I will search Lt. Walker in a moment. Anymore info on the branch of military? And is Neill's name really spelled with two "L's?"

Traci

Sorry, I just saw USAF. I need sleep. :-)

2nd Lieutenant Neill Stevenson Walker, 31st Fighter of the 309th Fighter Squadron disappeared after departing from Pomigliano, Italy. He was headed to the battle area (5th Army front.) The time reported for the disappearance was 0915. The last known whereabouts (via radio contact) of the aircraft was "Enemy Territory, Aquinno Area" His serial number was 0-663672. And he was a 2nd Lieutenant.

A full image of the official letter on "what happened" leading up to the disappearance is part of the 5 page report.

He was reported MIA via telegram sent to his father, John T. Walker in South CarolinA. It was sent on either 10 Jan or 13 Jan 1944.

Would you like the images of the 5 pages including the telegram and the Missing Aircrew Report?

The letter I spoke of is dated Dec 1943. The report is dated nearly a year later (1944.) This could be a typographical error.

Oddly, item 12 of the report says, "If personnel are believed to have survived, answer yes to one of the following statements:"

The answer marked is:

(c) Any other reason (Specify): Yes - See Reverse Side.

Also strange, is that the "reverse" side of the report does not appear to be part of the 5 pages of images...So I don't know what the "reverse" side said. Many of the pages are stamped "CONFIDENTIAL".

Also, the letter refers the 309th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group, APO #525, US Army

The American Battle Monuments Commission reports the following on the grave/memorial of Neill S. Walker:

Neill S. Walker
Electrician's Mate, 3rd Class
U.S. Navy
Service #3937049

Entered service from Wyoming
Died: 11-Jul-44
Missing in Action or Buried at Sea
Tablets of the Missing at Sicily-Rome American Cemetery
Nettuno, Italy
Awards: Purple Heart