GARDA - On Jan 4, 1945 under a clear afternoon sky, the B-25J Mitchell “Sad Sack”, flew on a daring daytime bombing run. Sadly, it would turn out to be its last.

The Sad Sack had flown from it’s base at Ghisonaccia in Corsica. Six airmen were on board the plane: Lt. Robert G. McPherson, from Kansas City (Missouri), pilot, Lt. Nolan D. Pickett, from Liberty (Texas), co-pilot, Sgt Maj. William J. Rutherford, from New York, aimer/bombardier, Sgt Maj. Eli L. Weaver Jr., from Bethlehem (Pennsylvania), armorer and turret gunner, Sgt Orlando R. Fazenbaker, from Keyser (West Virginia), radio operator and central gunner, Sgt Maj. Milo Dailey, from West Hamlin (West Virginia), flight engineer and tail gunner.

Having just completed a successful and daring daytime bombing run over the Nazi railway bridge on the Avisio river, while flying over the Lavis’ bridge, the Sad Sack was hit by the flak from the German anti-aircraft position stationed at Candriai on the slopes of Mount Bondone. After losing its left engine the B-25 swerved abruptly to the right, where it almost touched the plane next to it and then after a tailspin, rapidly losing nearly 2000 meters in height it lost contact with its formation of 35 planes,

Over Vezzano it sent its last radio signal. The “Sad Sack” was then seen over Pietramurata, flying very low and leaving behind a dark smoke trail. Two of the six crew members were able to bail out, them being Sargent Major Rutherford and Sargent Major Weaver, who were both subsequently captured by the Germans but survived the war.

On Jan 4^th, a memorial was held for the Sad Sack in Trento to commemorate it’s heroic final flight and the sacrifice it’s crew made for the cause of freedom.

The ceremony was held just outside the area in which the Sad Sack’s remains were found, and included the honoring of the families of the crew, the crew itself and several other airmen of World War two. One of these airmen was Fancesco Volpi, who was an Italian fighter pilot, from Trentino, who fought for the Russians against the German occupation of Russia. At the ripe old age of 100 he still has his flying license, and recently celebrated his hundredth birthday by taking a flight in Italian WWII plane called Caproni.  

The raising of the American and Italian flags side by side was of especial importance during the ceremony in order to symbolically demonstrate the unity the two countries have had since the ending of the Second World War.

Speeches where made by local mayor, Col. Abernathy, and Nolan Pickett, the nephew of the pilot of The Sad Jack, and Giacomo Zanetti on behalf of the Association Air Archeology and Italian online research group.  

After the official ceremonies the families of the Sad Sack’s crew visited the spot where one of the crew made their final landing.  The family then visited the exact spot where Milo Dailey the engineer and gunner died. According to accounts he hit his head in the plane and was unconscious when he fell from the plane so failed to release his parachute. The Association Air Archeology and Italian online research group have placed a marker on the spot in his memory.