Mihiel Gilormini | |
|---|---|
 Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini (1944) Gilormini was a co-founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard | |
| Nickname(s) | "Mike" |
| Born | August 3, 1918 Yauco, Puerto Rico |
| Died | January 29, 1988 (aged 69) San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United States of America (also British Commonwealth) |
| Service/ | .svg.png.webp){kind=small} Royal Canadian Air Force (1941), Royal Air Force (1941–1942) United States Army Air Forces (1942–1947), United States Air Force (1947)  Puerto Rico Air National Guard (1947–1975) |
| Years of service | 1941–1975 |
| Rank |  Brigadier General |
| Commands held | 198th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Puerto Rico Air National Guard |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Silver Star Distinguished Flying Cross (5 times) Purple Heart Air Medal with four clusters |
Brigadier General Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini Pacheco (August 3, 1918 – January 29, 1988) was a United States Air Force officer who served in the Royal Air Force and in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. He was the recipient of the Silver Star, the Air Medal with four clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross 5 times. He was also a co-founder of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard.
Early years
Gilormini (birth name: Mihiel Gilormini Pacheco[note 1]) was born to Domingo Gilormini and Petronila Pacheco de Gilormini in the town of Yauco, Puerto Rico. The town of Yauco, where he was raised and where he received his primary education, is located in the southwestern region of the island. Gilormini, graduated from the Escuela Superior de Yauco (Yauco High School) and in the early 1940s, moved to San Diego, California where he took private flying lessons, earning his pilot's license in 1941. On November 23, 1941, he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force with the rank of sergeant pilot.[1]
World War II
Upon the outbreak of World War II, Gilormini offered his services to the Royal Air Force and served with them. As a member of the RAF, he flew in a squadron of P-39s from England to North Africa and participated in the Allied invasion of Oran. He served with the RAF until November 30, 1942, when he joined the United States Army Air Forces with the rank of second lieutenant.[2] In October 1942, he was assigned to the 346th Fighter Squadron and flew the Bell P-39 Airacobra interceptor. In March 1943, he was transferred to the 345th Fighter Squadron of the 350th Fighter Group in North Africa and Italy, to replace pilot losses. He stayed with the 345th "Devil Hawks" and flew a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt until February 1945. On one occasion Gilormini led a squadron in an attack against Nazi positions in Conneto, Italy. During the attack his P-47 was struck by enemy anti-aircraft fire. Gilormini made a nose dive which put out the flames consuming his aircraft and rejoined his squadron. His squadron destroyed a strategic railroad and vehicles which were transporting military equipment.[3]
During the war he was promoted to captain and flew a total of 200 combat missions over England, North Africa, Corsica and Italy. On May 19, 1943, Gilormini was involved in an aircraft accident when his P-39 went down over Maison Blanche, Algiers.[4][5]
In an interview, Colonel Earl Miller, a former buddy and roommate of Gilormini, recalled the following:
Gilormini was the commander of 'A' Flight while I was commander of 'C' Flight. We sometimes flew together. In fact, our last combat mission was attacking the airfield at Milano. I led the attack. The flak was real heavy. The 88 shells were bursting all around and also hitting a high bank (we were flying real low) to my right. Mike said, 'Dutch, you better bail out, you are on fire!' Followed immediately with, 'Don't bail out, it's another guy.' Unfortunately, my wingman crashed and was killed."[6]
In 1945, Gilormini was awarded the Silver Star, G.O. (General Order) #27, for "Conspicuous Gallantry in Action" for his actions during the Conneto, Italy mission, while assigned to HQ, 12th Air Force .[7] Gilormini and Miller flew their last flight in Italy together giving air cover for General George C. Marshall's visit to their group at Pisa. They both returned to the United States on the same ship. Gilormini was also the recipient of five Distinguished Flying Crosses. The Distinguished Flying Cross is a medal awarded to any officer or enlisted member of the United States armed forces who distinguishes himself or herself in combat in support of operations by "heroism" or extraordinary achievement while participating in an aerial flight.[8] Also, in 1945, Puerto Rican poet Francisco Rojas Tollinchi paid homage to Gilormini in his poem "Recuerdo yaucano" (Remembrance of a Yaucano).[9]
Post World War II
After the war he continued to serve in the Army Air Force. In 1947, he was reassigned to the newly formed United States Air Force and named base commander to the 198th Fighter Squadron in Puerto Rico. On November 23, 1947, the Puerto Rico Air National Guard came into existence as a result of the efforts led by Colonel Mihiel Gilormini, Colonel Alberto A. Nido and Lieutenant Colonel José Antonio Muñiz. Gilormini was promoted to brigadier general and served as commander until his retirement from the military in 1975.
On January 29, 1988, Brigadier General Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini died in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and was buried with full military honors in Puerto Rico National Cemetery located in Bayamón, Puerto Rico.[10]
In 2020 Mihiel "Mike" Gilormini was posthumously inducted to the Puerto Rico Veterans Hall of Fame.[11]
Awards and decorations
Among Gilormini's awards and decorations were the following:
Awards:
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Badges:
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See also
Notes
References
- ↑ Negroni, Héctor Andrés. Historia Militar de Puerto Rico (A Military History of Puerto Rico). Turner Publishing. 1992. ISBN 84-7844-138-7. p 486.
- ↑ "Relatan hechos en que Participaron"; El Mundo; May 12, 1945; Number 10467
- ↑ "La Estrella de Plata al Capitan Gilormini por un acto heroico"; El Mundo; April 21, 1945; Number 10446
- ↑ Looking Mihiel Gilormini Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ 1943 USAAF Overseas Accident Reports
- ↑ Memories of a Jug Driver Archived 2007-05-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ U.S. Army Air Force Awards of the Silver Star for Conspicuous Gallantry in Action During WORLD WAR II Archived 2007-05-17 at archive.today
- ↑ Distinguished Flying Cross
- ↑ "JUSTIPRECIACIÓN DE LA OBRADE FRANCISCO ROJAS TOLLINCHI"; by Ada Hilda Martínez de Alicea; Dept. Estudios Hispánicos Pontificia Universidad Católica de PR.
- ↑ Puerto Rico National Cemetery Bayamón, Puerto Rico Archived 2011-11-30 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ https://www.opv.pr.gov/salon-de-la-fama/salon-de-la-fama
Further reading
- Boudock, Greg. Puertorriquenos Who Served With Guts, Glory, and Honor. Fighting to Defend a Nation Not Completely Their Own. ISBN 1497421837; ISBN 978-1497421837
- Negroni, Héctor Andrés. Historia Militar de Puerto Rico (A Military History of Puerto Rico). Turner Publishing, 1992. 536 pp. ISBN 84-7844-138-7