The Marlborough
Historical Society

     Raffaele was born the 12^th of October, 1920 in St. Antimo, Italy, the only son of three children born to Dominic and Elisabetta Pietroluongo.  He immigrated to the United States aboard the SS CONTE GRANDE from Naples Italy in 1929.  He was educated in schools in Marlborough and worked at the Elm Garage at 16 South Street as a mechanic while living with his parents at 175 Broad Street in Marlborough. He enlisted into the Army Air Corps the 14^th of January, 1942, and received training as an aerial gunner.  He was assigned to the 69^th Bombardment Squadron of the 42^nd “Crusaders” Bombardment Group.  The 69^th departed for the Pacific in January of 1942 via a variety of routes, ultimately meeting in Hawaii before moving to New Caledonia in June of 1942, making the 69^th the first medium range bombardment squadron in the Pacific theater.

     Raffaele and his aircrew were among the first Air Corps units to operate using torpedos and were under direct control of the Commander, Air Forces, South Pacific throughout the summer.  Through the Fall the 69^th was on constant alert and also operated on resupply missions.  In December of 1942, the men of the 69^th began the long flights in support of operations on Guadalcanal after the runway was extended to accommodate their aircraft.  He was a tail gunner of the B-26 Marauder “Krejan” when it was shot down over Rekata Bay in the British Solomon Islands the 7^th of January 1943, killing the entire crew.  Local indigineous people found the aircraft and gave the aircrew a burial on the beach of Rekata Bay the 15^th of September, 1943.  His remains were recovered in 1948 and he was reinterred in a group grave with the other members of his crew in 1949 at the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Lemay, Missouri Section 82, Site 55-56.  A cenotaph to his memory is located in the Immaculate Conception Cemetery in Marlborough, Massachusetts.  A parking garage and Raffaele Road in Marlborough are named in his honor. 

< back to Memorial Honor Roll list