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Sgt. Frank N. Cettina
720th Squadron
Frank Cettina
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Frank Cettina
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Frank Cettina
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Frank Cettina
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Left to Right -
Cpl. Gerald L. "Jerry" Dupont,
Sgt. William W. "Bill" Aaron,
Cpl. George L. Dillow and Frank Cettina
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Frank Cettina is in the centre of this picture
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Left to Right - Frank Cettina & George Dillow
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Left to Right - Back Row - Cpl. Thomas A. Coward, DIllow, Cettina
Front Row - Dupont & Aaron
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Cettina is on the far right
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White washing "The Rats Nest" for inspection - March 1945
Left to Right - Dupont, Coward, Cettina, Dillow & Aaron
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Cettina is on the far left
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Left to Right - Cettina & Coward
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Left to Right - Cettina & Dillow
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Left to Right - Cettina Egan, Anderson, Folk, Sgt. Martin W. Brandalick & Dupont
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Birthday wishes from Dupont to Cettina in July 2003
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Birthday wishes from Dupont to Cettina in July 2003
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Birthday wishes from Dupont to Cettina in July 2003
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FRANK CETTINA
WW II Biography
Graduated High School January, 1942 at age 19.
Enlisted in the Army on October 22, 1942 at age 19. Records
state he was in for the duration of World War II, plus an additional six
months.
His Army Air Forces Technical Training Command Course for
Airplane Mechanics was completed May 31, 1943 (rank was Private First Class
Frank N. Cettina, 12158075) at the Army Air Forces Technical School at Sheppard
Field, Texas. He did speak of Almagordo, Texas.
Received Consolidated Aircraft Corporation Certificate of
Completion for B-24 D Familiarization course for Air Forces personnel in First
and Second Echelon Airplane and Engine Maintenance July 13, 1943 at age 19,
about a week before his 20th birthday.
Dad was in the 450th Bombardment Group, known as the
Cottontails. There were 4 squadrons within the group – his was the 720. Occasionally,
Dad would be asked to do a test run with the pilots after repairs were done,
for which he received "flight pay." He took many of the photos in air
on these runs.
Dad and his buddies, Tom Coward, Bill Aaron, George Dillow
and Jerry Dupont, built their own living quarters in Italy, managing to use all
local resources available (one of the photos has Dillow covered in lime dust!)
They were known as the Five Rats and their "home away from home" was
lovingly called "The Rats Nest" and was featured in a local GI
publication. All five of their names can be seen on the door and they all had
nicknames - his nickname was "Fritz." The Rats even made their own
wine!
The Five Rats from Manduria
Cpl. Gerard L. Dupont ("Spot Light"/"Frenchie") from
Waterbury, Connecticut
Cpl. George L. Dillow ("The House Maid"/"Hans") from New
Albany, Indiana
Sgt. William W. Aaron ("Sack Time") from Rolla, Missouri
Sgt. Frank N. Cettina ("Fritz") from Long Island City, New
York
Cpl. Thomas A. Coward from Dearborn, Michigan.
As kids, we often wondered quite impatiently why my dad
would rather sit in bumper to bumper traffic instead of trying to find detours,
so we asked him one day, while we were in the car. He told us that he was
originally scheduled to travel to Manduria, Italy by boat and although it was
offered to him, he declined a last minute spot on a plane, wanting to stick to
his original plan. He made a wise choice as the plane crashed.
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Aircraft Pictures from the Cettina Collection
Miscellaneous Pictures from the Cettina Collection
Information courtesy of Lou Ann Cettina, Daughter of Frank Cettina.
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