Private George Larkin was a crew member of a B-24 and was killed in action on December 20. 1944 on mission No. 169 to Pilsen Germany. Because he is buried in Italy, it seems that he was brought back deceased from the mission. The action report for December 20 states that 6 aircraft were lost that day, but no MACR has been found that lists Larkin.
Larkin was born in Florida, and enlisted in the Air Corps in San Antonio, Texas on Decmber 10, 1941, just 3 days after Pearl Harbor. His group includes his officially engraved slot brooch posthumous Purple Heart with presentation case and officially engraved slot brooch posthumous Air Medal with presentation case, and Presidential Accolade auto signed by Franklin Roosevelt. The edge number on the Purple Heart is 478505. Larkin's rank on the Air Medal is rubbed out.
The 455th Bomb Group arrived on February 1, 1944, at San Giovanni, Italy, after training in England. No record of Larkin's service prior to that has been located.
A Great unit history of the 455th Bomb Group, the Vulgar Vultures, can be found on the web at: http://homecaregiverhelp.com/Cerignola/455th_BG_History.php
