08/27/2026
Cadet Alfred M. Tua, aged 22yrs.
Born: 22MAR1921 Died: 27AUG1943
Killed in an Army basic training plane in Bono, Ark., Clifton New Jersey native Aviation CADET ALFRED M. TUA (service #:14128407) (son of Ponce, Puerto Rico native Alfred J. Tua and mother Nora Tomevi) died after an accident in BT-13 #41-22918, approximately 3 miles north of the WRAAF (Bono, Ar.). After practicing a simulated forced landing, the plane climbed to about 700 feet, where it stalled, entered a spin, crashed and burned. The plane was totaled. (At rest in Calvary Cemetery, Section 32/Grave46, Paterson, NJ). Joining the Air Corps on 12 July 1942 from Salem, NC, he had just completed his training and received his wings.
2nd LT. George Franklin Woessner, aged 22yrs.
Born: 21MAY1921 Died: 27AUG1943
20. 2nd LT. GEORGE F. WOESSNER (service #: O-806568) (and Aviation CADETLOUIS ROBERT VASSALLO) were killed in an accident in BT-13 #41-22276, about 6 miles south of the WRAAF. While they were practicing instrument flying ‘under the hood’ at about 1,500 feet, their plane entered a steep turn followed by a high-speed stall and spin. Recovery was made from the spin but they were too low to pull out of the dive. The plane crashed and burned. WOESSNER died 28 August 1943, in Arkansas, at the age of 22. He was buried in Tiffen, OH.
Cadet Louis Robert Vassallo, aged 21yrs.
Born: 11OCT1921 Died: 27AUG1943
21. One of seven children/son of Joseph and Giuseppine Chiodo Vassallo, Aviation CADET LOUIS ROBERT VASSALLO, (service #:12131196) and 2nd LT. GEORGE F. WOESSNER were killed in an accident in BT-13 #41-22276, about 8 miles south of WRAAF. While practicing instrument flying *“under the hood” at about 1,500 feet, their plane entered a steep turn followed by a high-speed stall and spin. Recovery was made from the spin but they were too low to pull out of the dive and the plane crashed and burned.
Vassallo, a young man of Italian descent, was a graduate of Central High School and had attended Syracuse University. He was laid to rest in Syracuse, NY. at Assumption Cemetery and Mausoleum.
