Alan M. Shapiro, WWII (2nd Lieutenant 1st Allied Airborne, 316th Troop Carrier Squadron)
May 7, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM American Legion Post 272 (Linglestown) 505 N Mountain Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112, USA
Time & Location
May 07, 2026, 7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
American Legion Post 272 (Linglestown), 505 N Mountain Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112, USA
About the event
From the age of 11, Alan Shapiro wanted to be a pilot in the US Army Air Corps.
During WWII, he enlisted and was accepted for flight training. Graduating as a fighter pilot, he was awarded his wings and commissioned as a 2nd Lt on August 4, 1944. The Air Corps also had him train and award his wings as an airborne glider pilot. He was shipped to England aboard the Queen Mary (along with 13,000 other GIs) to await participation in an airborne operation which was ultimately cancelled, but which resulted in his piloting the C-47 aircraft used to drop paratroopers behind enemy lines, as well as supplying General Patton ammunition and fuel to allied tank units in Normandy and beyond.
He participated in the Battle of the Bulge, flying in, but was unable to fly out due to abominably cold, icy weather. Once able to fly out, his…