Samuel Angelini was born on 12 May 1922 in hamilton, Ontario. His parents were Alexander and Carmela Angelini. He had five brothers (Larry, Lou, John, Jim, Joseph) and three sisters (Phyllis, Caroline, Vera).

He was married to Gertrude Angelini.

Samuel enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force on 15 August, 1942 and was awarded his Pilot's Flying Badge on 15 October, 1943, on which date he was also commissioned as a Pilot Officer.

439 Squadron RCAF

He was promoted to Flying officer on 15 April 1944 and left for England on the 25rh of May. It was not until 17 November that he joined 439 squadron.Samuel was part of an armed recce, led by F/O Bob Laurence in the morning of 1 January 1945. F/O Sam Angelini had completed 14 operational sorties by this time. When returning to base after the recce to the area of St. Vith, they were notified of enemy aircraft in their area. His flight encountered 15 German aircraft. The German planes were part of the last ditch German air offensive in the west, Operation Bodenplatte. The aim of the attack was a massive attack on many Allied airfields on the continent, hoping to destroy as many as possible planes on the ground. The mission was planned as part of the Ardennes offensive that was launched on 16 December 1944, but had already been thwarted by then. In the attack, the Germans lost many experienced pilots, a loss that they could ill afford.

The 439 squadron planes engaged the 15-20 German planes just east of Helmond. It seemed the Germans were engaged in attacking ground targets. During the ensuing combat, which lasted between four and five minutes, F/O Angelini was possibly shot down by Fw. Karl Schubert of 2./JG6 who claimed a Typhoon north of Venlo.

The following entry is from 439's War Operations Record Book: "One was lost on the morning recce when F/O Angelini went missing after a dogfight with the Jerries. This pilot has done 14 sorties totaling 16:50 operational hours and giving him a total of 457:00 flying hours. This was his first operation since the 5th of December and during most of the interval he was in England waiting for the weather to clear up so that he could ferry a Typhie back."

The following entry is from 439's War Operations Record Book: "...At this point, FW-190's were reported heading east from Eindhoven, the section of four Typhoons immediately endeavered to intercept them, which they did just east of Helmond, Holland. There were approximately 15 FW-190's engaged by the four 439 Sqn Typhoons and one or two friendly Spitfires. The dog-fight lasting four or five minutes resulted in F/O Laurence and F/O Fraser each destroying two aircraft. When the action broke off the aircraft returned to base to find it unserviceable due to enemy action and had to go to Volkel where they landed and were refueled. However, Yellow 4 (F/O Angelini) is missing and was last heard of in the circuit telling Pitchdark he had 10 gallons of fuel left. It was assumed that he was attacked by unknown enemy aircraft and was not able to outrun or outmaneuver them. He was subsequently found still in his burned out bullet ridden cockpit near Rips, Holland."

At the time of his death, at the age of 22, F/O Angelini was an expectant father-to-be and would never meet his daughter Mary.

P/O Angelini is buried at Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery.

(picture courtesy of Mike Melnick)

Groesbeek, The Netherlands

See Also:
439 squadron casualties in The Netherlands

Sources and Acknowledgements:
(1) Mr. Mike Melnick, webmaster of the 439 TIGER Squadron website, for his help and permission to use the cited Operations Records Book and the picture, which is courtesy of Mike Melnick.
John Manrho and Ron Putz, Bodenplatte, Hikoki, Crowborough, 2004
Gerrit Zwanenberg, En Nooit Was Het Stil, Royal Dutch Air Force, ny

Relevant sites:
Mike Melnick's tribute to F/O Angelini

Directions to Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery

Posted 4 November 2005

If you have any suggestions, comments or additional information, please contact me.

This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

Home | Search | Research | About