Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

						S/Sgt. Angelo Gambino was the ball turret gunner of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-31218. In the target zone over Bremen the bomber was hit by flak, lost power in an engine and eventually had to leave the formation. As a straggler it was attacked by fighters that killed the radio operator, Sgt. J.A. Harnish. The attacks caused fire in the left wing and the other nine crewmembers bailed out. The B-17 crashed at Baarlo and ruined a farm. Gambino landed south of Zwartsluis. He was very lucky to fall directly in the right hands: 'I was very fortunate in being picked up by the right people just as I hit the ground. They immediately gave me a test to see that I was telling the truth on being an American airman. They then brought me up to the town of MEPPEL where I was given civilian clothes'. Gambino found a hiding place in the house of two sisters, Froukje Trijntje and Tina Wilhelmina de Vries at Prins Hendrikstraat 3a at Meppel. From here he probably moved to the house of resistance leader Peter van den Hurk at Weerdstraat 55. He was joined here first by T/Sgt. Earl S. Lambert (E0289), the right waist gunner again. At a later moment (probably after two days) also S/Sgt. John F. Graney (E0287), the engineer and T/Sgt. Woodrow W. Tarleton (E0291), the left waist gunner joined them in Meppel. The four were handed over to Joke Folmer who escorted them together with a fifth airman, 2/Lt. John Lyons (E0293), the pilot of B-17 42-37950 'Dinah Might', to Roermond and 'delivered' them to Remko Roosjen at the Boermanstraat 46. Apparently also Henny Teuwen and G.L. Hovenkamp (an underdiver himself in the house of Joke Folmer at Homeruslaan 54 in Zeist) played a role in this period. From Roermond the five moved probably to Maastricht were the came in the hands of Groep 'Vrij'.

In Maastricht they stayed for about a week. After crossing the Meuse River, escorted by Jacques Vrij, they arrived on Belgian soil. After crossing the border they arrived in Liege where they hid in the Singer sewing machine factory, which was closed at the time. Here their ways separated. Gambino, Graney and probably also Tarleton went with via Waterloo to Brussels. After hiding here for some time it was decided that it would be safer to transfer them to Charleroi. On 14 March the three were handed over at the Gare du Nord of Brussels to Simone Gazet and Valentin Gillieaux. They escorted them to Charleroi. After arrival here Lambert went to Mrs. Élise Caels in Rue de Couillet 74 in Marcinelle. Gambino and Graney found a hiding place on another, unknown, address, possibly the house of Mr. Pol Petit and his wife Mrs. Andrée Pirson at the Rue Dagnelies 45 in Charleroi. Probably on 30 March the three were assembled at the house of Mrs. Vve Hubeaux. A few hours later they were taken to Florent Honnore's house at Avenue Eugène Mascaux in Marcinelle, where they spent the night. From there Gambino and Graney went to Fleurus. Here their ways separated with Lambert, who went to Bomerée (Montigny-le-Tilleul) and eventually would not be captured. Gambino stayed here for two nights with Robert Brabant at 127 Chaussée de Charleroi in Fleurus and Graney with Mrs. Irma Bayot (and her daughter) at 110 Chaussée de Charleroi in Fleurus. From here they went to Rue Masses-Diarbois 121 in Ransart. Eventually Gambino and Graney were arrested on 2 July in Ransart by the Gestapo. Gambino was sent to a PoW camp. He survived the war. 

Angelo Gambino passed away on 29 Jun 2011 at Dutchess, Poughkeepsie, NY, at the age of 88. He is buried at Saint Peters Cemetery
Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, USA.