Hometown Heroes
Petty Officer 3rd Class Alfred Bonosconi, U.S. Navy
By Michael Rocchetti
By the end of 1944, the Imperial Japanese Navy (IJN) was running out of fuel to operate their ships, and decided to convert one of their older battleships, the IJNS Nagato, into a floating anti-aircraft artillery (AAA) platform. The IJNS Nagato was assigned to coastal AAA defense duties. In the closing weeks of the war, the Nagato was attacked on July 18, 1945, as part of the American campaign to destroy Japan’s last remaining capital ships. Alfred Bonosconi served on this mission. He was a radio operator and gunner (the backseater) on a Curtis Helldiver SB2C dive bomber, from Bombing Squadron VB-85, the “Sky Pirates” attached to the aircraft carrier USS Shangri La CV-38. During this mission, Alfred Bonosconi was mortally wounded after being hit by shrapnel from antiaircraft artillery fire. His plane made it back to the carrier, but it was too late - he bled to death in the cockpit on the way back to the carrier.
He was born in Putnam on Jan. 19, 1924, the son of Paul and Blanche Bonosconi. He was buried at sea. He is memorialized at the Courts of the Missing, Court 5, at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii. The following article was published in the Windham County Observer on Aug. 8, 1945:
“Alfred Bonosconi In Supreme Sacrifice In Pacific Area: Alfred Paul Bonosconi, 21, ARM3/c, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Bonosconi of 6 Middle Street, was killed while serving in the Navy with units operating in the Pacific combat area, according to a telegram received by his parents from the Navy Department in Washington. Details concerning the circumstances surrounding his supreme sacrifice have not as yet been received locally. He was a graduate of St. Mary’s School in the Class of 1937. A native of Putnam, where he was born Jan. 19, 1924, he had lived here all of his life until he joined the Navy two and a half years ago. He was assigned on a dive bomber operating from a Navy carrier. In addition to his parents, he is survived by a sister, Rita, and a brother, Paul A. Bonosconi, both of Putnam.
Hometown Heroes books can be purchased online at: https://hometown-heroes-of-the-quiet-corner.myshopify.com/ - all proceeds benefit the local American Legion Post. Hometown Heroes is a series published in the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger with this mission: We owe it to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to make sure that they are never forgotten, and that the memory of their service and sacrifice will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the grateful people of Putnam.
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