RADIO
George Prezioso

Staff Sergeant George Prezioso, 12009388 was born and raised in Belleville, New Jersey. Prezioso joined the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and afterwards volunteered for the United States Army Air Force in November 1939.

He arrived in Australia early in 1942 and was trained a a radio operator and began flying combat missions. After the July 11, 1943 ditching of "Black Jack", he was awarded an Air Medal Oak Leaf Cluster.

When the 43rd Group fully converted to B-24s, a dozen old B-17s were modified as armed transports and assigned to the 54th Troop Carrier Wing; Prezioso went with them and was assigned to the 39th Troop Carrier Squadron of the 317th Troop Carrier Group, flying in B-17 "Yankee Didd’ler" 41-2458. In all George Prezioso flew 535 combat hours and 72 missions. He returned home in June 1944.

After the war, he worked building aircraft engines for Wright in New Jersey. Prezioso passed away on January 9, 2015.