48th Squadron

Two Marion Airmen Served in Same Unit and Were Killed on the Same Operation, 1945

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Two Marion, Ohio men served during World War Two in the same Air Corps. unit, 48th Squadron, 313th Troop Carrier Group. Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo entered service in May of 1942. He was trained to become a co-pilot and navigator. Lt. Gerald E. Hamilton would enlist in the Army as a private in October of 1941. He would later transfer to the Army Air Corps. on 2 January 1942. Lt. Hamilton was trained to be a pilot.
Both men would see their last state side duty station at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
It is not known whether these men knew of each other’s connection to Marion, Ohio, but it must be assumed they did as they would have worked closely together.
Both men flew in C-47 Dakota troop carrier planes. They would fly airborne troops to there Designated Zones (DZ) and also fly wounded troops and supplies. Lt. Hamilton was a veteran of Operation Market Garden. It is not verified, but Lt. Ruzzo would likely have been on the same operation in September of 1944.

C-46 Commandos preparing for Operation Varsity. Ruzzo’s aircraft is in the middle with the letter “M” on the tail. Hamilton’s aircraft is in front of Ruzzo’s (only the tail visible) with the letter “T” on the tail.

On Operation Varsity both men flew in the same formation, Serial A6, Second Flight, 48th TCS.
Both men would be assigned to the larger C-46 Commando troop carriers on 24 March 1945. The C-46 Commandos could carry thirty-six airborne troopers as opposed to the eighteen carried by the C-47 Dakotas. Also, the C-46 had doors on each side, allowing for troopers to exit faster. Operation Varsity was the last major airborne operation of World War Two. In fact, it was the largest single airborne operation to take place in a single day.

The first planes carrying the 17th Airborne took off shortly after 0700, with the last getting aloft just before 0900. The airborne lift included a total of 9,387 paratroopers and glider-borne soldiers, carried aboard 72 C-46s, 836 C-47s, and 906 CG-4A gliders. This, combined with the British airborne armada of nearly 800 aircraft and 420 gliders, carrying over 8,000 soldiers, stretched nearly 200 miles and took thirty-seven minutes to pass a given point. The two formations rendezvoused in the skies near Brussels, Belgium, before proceeding to the drop zones 100 miles away. In addition, nearly 1,000 Allied fighters escorted the transports. For those watching below, including GEN Eisenhower and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, it was an impressive display of Allied might. MG James M. Gavin, commander of the 82d Airborne Division, who had never witnessed a major airborne operation from the ground, called it “an awesome spectacle.”

From ArmyHistory.org
Operation VARSITY: The Last Airborne Deployment of World War II
By Matthew J. Seelinger

Both men were able to deliver their cargo of troopers from the 17th Airborne Division (Golden Talons) to their Designated Area (DZ). But both planes were hit by flak and would crash. It was on this mission that a fatal weakness of the C-46 Commando was revealed. The planes did not have self sealing fuel tanks and were set on fire from the punctured fuel tanks and German incendiary rounds fired that day.

Almost immediately, the C-46’s fatal flaw became apparent. The planes lacked self-sealing fuel tanks; if a fuel tank was punctured, high octane aviation gas would stream along the wings towards the fuselage. All it took was a single spark to turn each plane into a flying inferno. German 20mm incendiary rounds proved extremely lethal and set several damaged aircraft ablaze. Ridgway later reported that the heaviest losses during Varsity came during the first thirty minutes of the 513th’s drop. Nineteen of the seventy-two C-46s were lost, with fourteen going down in flames, some with paratroopers on board. Another thirty-eight were severely damaged. Many soldiers wounded during the flight to the drop zones chose to jump and take their chances rather than remain in the dangerously flawed aircraft. After Varsity, Ridgway issued orders prohibiting the use of C-46s in future airborne operations.

From ArmyHistory.org
Operation VARSITY: The Last Airborne Deployment of World War II
By Matthew J. Seelinger

Both aircraft were witnessed in separate reports as being hit by flak and going down after turning back towards the Rhine. Both Lt. Gerald E. Hamilton and Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo were killed in action during Operation Varsity. They are also both buried in Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.
Also, Read about the Rescue and Return of Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo’s Funeral Flag.

Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo – World War Two Casualty

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Walter Lawrence Ruzzo was born in Marion, Ohio, on 18 October 1917. His parents are James & Florence (Viggins) Ruzzo. The parents immigrated from Italy to America about 1906. Walter L. Ruzzo graduated from Harding High School in 1935. Walter had two brothers who also served during World War Two; Edward J. Ruzzo and Francis A. Ruzzo.
Walter L. Ruzzo entered service in May of 1942. Walter would attend training at Santa Ana, California, and his last duty station in the states would be at Baer Field, Indiana. Walter married Rose Margaret Evans, also of Marion Ohio, on 20 July 1943. They were married at the Post Chapel at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana. After less than a month of marriage, Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo would leave his bride and depart for service overseas.

While overseas Lt. Ruzzo would serve as a Navigator and Co-Pilot with the 48th Squadron, 313th Troop Carrier Group. He few in C-47 Commandos and C-46 Dakotas. He had participated in the Sicilian Invasion, he would patrol over the seas on submarine patrol, and serve in the African Theater.

Ruzzo (far right) with crew.

His last mission would be 24 March 1945, participating in Operation Varsity. He would be the Navigator on a C-46 Commando troop carrier to transport troopers of the 17th Airborne Division “Golden Talons.” This was the last major airborne operation of World War Two. Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo was on C-46 (#44-77602) and delivered all of it’s troopers to the designated zone (DZ). The aircraft was struck by flak and the left engine was on fire when last seen. All crew except one were killed in the incident. The one surviving crew member was Tech. Sergeant Charles L. Williams, Crew Chief. Williams was partially out of the side hatch when the aircraft made a crash landing. He was thrown from the wreckage and later carried by German medics, who treated him and moved him to a nearby cellar. American forces would later find him.
Another Marion veteran was also killed on Operation Varsity, Lt. Gerald E. Hamilton. Hamilton was a pilot on the same flight formation. Lt. Hamilton was piloting another C-46 (#44-77512). He also delivered his troopers to the DZ and was shot down.
Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.
Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; on the west wall of the Marion County Courthouse; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

You may also like to read about the Rescue and Return of Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo’s Funeral Flag.

Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo’s Funeral Flag on Display at the Marion Municipal Airport, Thank You, to Matt Arnold, Airport Director and staff, for helping us Honor these veterans.

Lt. Gerald E. Hamilton – World War Two Casualty

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Pvt. Hamilton U. S. Army

Gerald Evett Hamilton was born 3 October 1919, in Richwood, Ohio. His parents are Frank E. & Edna C. (Sanderson) Hamilton of Wadsworth, Ohio. Gerald would graduate from Martel High School. Prior to enlistment he had worked as an electrician for North Electric Company in Galion, Ohio and the Ohio Injector Company in Wadsworth, Ohio.
Gerald E. Hamilton would enlist in the Army as a private on 14 October 1941. On 2 January 1942, he transferred to the Army Air Corps. and receive his commission as a Second Lieutenant. He received his training at air fields in Texas, Georgia and Mississippi. He was last stationed in this country at Baer Field, Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Lt. Hamilton U. S. Army Air Corps

Lt. Gerald E. Hamilton was a pilot of a C-47 Dakota, assigned to the 48th Squadron, 313th Troop Carrier Group. He would participate in Operation Market Garden over Holland in September of 1944. His actions here would earn him the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
On Operation Varsity, Lt. Hamilton was flying the larger C-46 Commando. He was to drop paratroopers of the 17th Airborne Division “Golden Talons,” near Wesel, on 24 March 1945. His crew was able to deliver the paratroopers to their designated Area (DZ), prior to crashing after being hit by flak. His right wing was witnessed as being on fire when last seen. Lt. Hamilton was initially reported as missing in action. After later investigation, Lt. Gerald E. Hamilton would be reported as killed in action when his aircraft C-46 (#44-77512) went down.
Another Marion veteran was also killed on Operation Varsity, Lt. Walter L. Ruzzo. Lt. Ruzzo was onboard another C-46 (#44-77602). He also delivered his paratroopers to the DZ before he was shot down.
Lt. Gerald E. Hamilton is buried in Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands. He has a grave marker at Broadway Cemetery, Broadway, Ohio.
Lt. Gerald E. Hamilton is remembered on the Honor Roll, at the Veterans Memorial Park, in Marion, Ohio; and on the World War II Veterans Memorial Wall, at the Marion Cemetery.

Other crew members of C-46 (#44-77512):
2nd Lieutenant Wayne Wilson, Co-Pilot
Staff Sergeant Albert E. Lewis, Radio Operator
Technical Sergeant Wenzel T. Klimek, Crew Chief