This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Sgt Duane Kimbrow
to remember
Casaccia, Libero Paul, Capt.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Fresno
Casualty Date Oct 13, 1951
Cause MIA-Finding of Death
Reason Air Loss, Crash - Land
Location Korea
Conflict Korean War
Location of Interment Liberty Veterans Cemetery - Fresno, California
Captain Libero Casaccia was the pilot of an AT-6D "Mosquito" observation aircraft (#42-84947), flying as an airborne forward air controller (FAC) in Korea. He served with the 6148th Tactical Control Squadron, 6147th Tactical Air Control Group at Pyongtaek Airdrome. His unit was responsible for deep penetration of enemy territory for close air support air strikes.
His aircraft was shot down while on a mission, no chutes were seen, and his aircraft crashed and burned 15 miles northeast of Kaesong. His observer, SFC Frederick E. Larkin, was also killed. (Note: This mission was part of "Operation Nomad-Polar", the last last in a series of bloody Allied offensives against Communist forces in North Korea (push toward Kumsong, North Korea).
He was interred in Liberty Veterans Cemetery, Fresno, California. He left a wife and two children.
Note:
Profile Incomplete: Other service data from WWII, when he served in the ETO as a B-17 pilot. His B-17G (tail number 44-6550 was shot down over Czechoslovakia on 25 December 1944. He and the crew survived and were returned. From MACR 10703. 49th Bomb Squadron (H), 2nd Bomb Group (H), 15th Air Force out of Amendola, Italy. with a target of Brux Synthetic Oil Refinery, Czechoslovaia.
Note:
Army SFC Larkin served as an air-ground controller with I Company, 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division, U.S. Army. Prior to going to air ground control, he was in 2nd Squad, 4th Platoon, mortar section. (Profiled on Army TWS).
