The following is from a public relations release -

“An Eighth Air Force Liberator Station, England

S/Sgt Phillip J Mastandrea, 3027 Mickle Ave., THe Bronx, has been awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement while in Aerial Combat. Mastandrea has already participated in 7 bombing missions over Germany and enemy occupied Europe—and at present is grounded by the medical authorities.

On the gunners’ second mission to Germany, which was Aschersleben, flak hits found their mark on the Liberator. The ship managed to stay in formation until it crossed the Channel. About 10 miles from the home field, the plane steadily lost altitude until it finally crashed into a house. 7 members of the crew were killed. THe three who got out were S/Sgt Truman Thompson, Corpus Cristi, Texas, S/Sgt Meyer Miller, 886 Blake Ave., Brooklyn, and Mastandrea. None of the gunners seemed to know how they got out.

The boys spent the next three weeks in a hospital recuperating. May 24th found Mastendrea returning to his squadron—and flying on his third mission. The doctor advises him going on a few test hops, but the young Bronxite insisted on the real thing. Then on May 30th, his 21st birthday, Mastandrea went to Germany again, this time Zwuschenahn. Over the target area and immediately following “Bombs Away” direct flak hits knocked out number 3 and 4 engines, also causing a leak in the gas tank. While over enemy territory on the way back from the target, Major Holdrege, Command Pilot in the lead ship of our squadron and one of his wing planes piloted by Lt. Siebern, dropped back to give support to the crippled Lib. By adding more fire power should the straggler encounter enemy planes.

LT. Siebern proceeded to clear the VHF channel to enable Major Holdrege and himself in assisting Lt. Mulheran, the pilot of the crippled bomber, as much as possible. The pilot, 1st Lt. Joseph Mulheran of Minneapolis, Minn., ordered everything thrown overboard in order to lighten the load. Mastandrea tried salvoing his lower ball turret, but couldn’t get it completely out. This left it protruding from the plane. The plane lost altitude and the use of it’s radio. U.S. fighter planes seeing the condition of the huge Lib. Rushed to and escorted it back across the channel. Mastandrea later said, “it was the most beautiful sight in the world seeing those 38’s and 47’s. We would have been lost without the as they kept the German fighters away, whereas we never could have defended ourselves. Our guns had also been thrown out.”

Lt. Mulheron brought the ship down, with the ball turret only about 1 foot off the ground. Hearing about this sensational landing, Brig. Gen. Walter Peck, Commanding General of a Liberator Wing rushed over to congratulate the entire crew on the Splendid job they had each done.

It was after this mission that the medics finally grabbed Mastandrea and grounded him against his wishes. His nerves were shot. At present he is working in the Engine Shop, but is waiting for the day he can return to combat duty.

He is the son of Mr. And Mrs. Tom Mastandrea, 3027 Mickle Ave. Mastandrea is a graduate of Samuel Compers Vocational School. In civilian life he was employed by the Eastchester Sales and Service Gas Station. He enlisted into the Army Oct 30, 1942. Mastandrea received his combat training at Wendover Field, Utah and came overseas March 12, 1944. A younger brother, Nicholas, is stationed with the Air Corps in Italy. “