ACMM Peter John Cirafice 4004246

Aviation Chief Machinist Mate Peter John Cirafice 4004246, US Navy MIA / KIA. He was born on October 22, 1913, in Massachusetts, the son of Joseph Franklin Cirafice Sr and Mary Bova Cirafice. He married Theodora Jean Wlodkowski on June 21, 1932, in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. He entered the US Navy on February 14, 1938 at the age of 24. He reenlisted in January 1940. 1938 – 1940 he served at Naval Reserve Aviation Base Boston. In 1941 – 1942 he served at he served at Naval Reserve Aviation Base Atlanta Ga. In 1944 – 1945 he served on the USS Indiana BB58 in the Aviation unit.

On March 27, 1945, LTJG Frank Haas Jr. landed his Kingfisher on the water so his crew ACMM Peter Cirafice, could rescue the crew of a downed US plane. Before he could, a wave crashed over one of the wings and capsized the plane. On March 27, 1945, LTJG Haas, and ACMM Cirafice had a mission to rescue a downed carrier pilot flying a Hellcat, off the coast of Okinawa. Peter had volunteered for this mission as there was insufficient men for this mission. LTJG Haas landed his Kingfisher on the water so his crew ACMM Peter Cirafice, could rescue the crew of a downed US plane. Before he could, a wave crashed over one of the wings and capsized the plane. The last he was seen, he was floating on a pontoon. The search for the 3 men was conducted on 03-28-1945 to no avail. Peter had volunteered for this mission as there was insufficient men for this mission. In 1952 Cirafice’s remains were found on a remote Reukyu island chain by the US Army recovery team, it was determined that he survived after making landfall and died from hyperthermia and exhaustion from at least 9 or 10 days at sea with nothing but a life preserver of sort. His remains were flown back to Massachusetts for burial. He was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston, Massachusetts. It is estimated that he died on April 5, 1945.