Remembering local World War II heroes from Winchendon; one died on his way home

WINCHENDON – World War II had come to an end in August of 1945, and yet many soldiers still needed to remain at their station until officially called home.

Sgt. William B. Occhialini was one of those soldiers who was anxiously awaiting his return home to his native Winchendon. A letter which was received by his family and dated Nov. 1 stated that he expected to leave India on Nov. 3 for home.

His wife, the former Doris Rouleau of Fitchburg and his two young children, William Charles and Susan Kay, were overjoyed. With Thanksgiving coming up in a few weeks and then the celebration of Christmas to follow, they could all again be together and resume family life.

However, tragedy would intervene and 27-year-old Sgt. Occhialini was lost over India in an airplane crash on a routine flight which was slated to take him home.

This is the continuation of the series Remembering Local World War II Heroes.

Sgt. William B. Occhialini (1918-1945)

William Basilio Beniamino Occhialini was born on Sep. 3, 1918 in Winchendon to Arnaldo and Caterina (Gramolini) Occhialini. He lived with his family at 63 Glenallen St. and attended Murdock High School. He later became a chef at the Treadway Inn, which was located at the Toy Town Tavern.

Later, he became a chef for the Heald Machine Co. in Worcester prior to entering the service.

Occhialini entered the service at Alabama and was stationed in October 1942 at a training field at Reno, Nevada in Army Air Force where he was engaged as a cook. He went overseas in July of 1944 and was stationed in Chabua, India.With the war over, he was packed and ready to return home when he was reportedly one of 40 homebound American soldiers on a plane which left India on Nov. 3, 1945 and went missing over the mountains of Bhutan.

The Search and Rescue Unit immediately organized and a search for the aircraft was conducted on Nov. 3. After an exhaustive 113 missions and approximately 600 hours, the wreckage was eventually spotted from the air on the northeast side of an 8,000-foot ridge about 46 miles due South of Punaka, Bhutan Province, India.

It was discovered that the crash was so terrific that parts of the aircraft had been scattered over a one-quarter to one-half mile area. Reports noted that the natives of the area worked tirelessly to assist in the recovery mission despite the fact that many of them had never seen a white man and had no ability to understand the English language.

According to a letter received by the family from the Headquarters of Army Air Forces in Washington, D.C., Sgt. Occhialini was a passenger on a C-54 (Skymaster) transport plane which departed from Chabua, India on a transport mission to Karachi, India.

More:Two Winchendon men reunite in the middle of World War II, only to die soon after

The letter went on to say, “during this mission Sgt. Occhialini’s aircraft, nicknamed 'Raven,' crashed into the top of an 8,000-foot mountain ridge located in Bhutan Province, India. The wreckage was spotted from the air on 3 December 1945 and a ground search party reached the scene of the crash on 10 December 1945.

"The aircraft was completely demolished and debris was scattered over a wide area. Only 14 bodies were found, five of which were identified as Flight Officer Howard F. Hulslander, Staff Sgt. Robert G. Harrigan, Sgt. Joseph A. Jenkins, Sgt. William Occhialini and Cpl. Iradell Lee.

"Inasmuch as a heavy layer of snow and ice covered the area, the bodies of the other personnel aboard the plane could not be found. However, since the aircraft, while heading west, had apparently struck the mountain ridge with such force that it exploded and fell down the northwest slope, all the occupants of the plane were definitely determined to have been killed.

"The cause of the accident is not known as it was impossible to learn further details of the crash by examining the wreckage.

"May I assure you that the personnel of the Army Air Forces share the sorrow caused by the untimely passing of Sgt. Occhialini.

"Very sincerely, Leon W. Johnson, Brig. Gen. U.S.A. Chief, Personnel Services Div."

Another communication to the family from Lt. Col. William Meyer, GSC Asst. C/4 Personnel, noted “Everything humanly possible was done under the circumstances, but practical difficulties prevented the possibility of returning William’s body to an American Military Cemetery for proper religious and military burial. It was necessary for the ground party members to bury all the personnel in the best possible manner at the scene of the crash, performing a short military ceremony in their memory and properly marking the site.”

In addition to his parents, wife and children, Occhialini was survived by brothers Navio A., Nelson R., and Agon R., all of Winchendon.

A stone in Riverside Cemetery, Winchendon is placed at the family plot in his honor.

Pfc. Fred M. Madigan (1920-1943)

Frederick Marshall Madigan was born on Nov. 6, 1920 in Winchendon to Alfred J. and Dora V. (Bosworth) Madigan. He graduated from Murdock High School in 1939. For some time, he traveled extensively with carnivals, with his carefree and debonair manner making him a host of friends. His mother later remarried Lester M. Joy and lived at 14 School Square in town.

Madigan entered the service on Aug. 9, 1942 serving as a maintenance mechanic in the Army Air Force. He was later assigned to a Ferrying Squad in Air Transport Command.

While serving in the Latin American area near Brazil on May 13, 1943 he was reported lost at sea.

The following week, his mother received a telegram from the War Department and signed by U.S. Army General James Ulio that her son had been killed in the Latin America area. The message stated that a letter would follow, but no further details were given at the time.

When his death notice appeared in the Winchendon Courier, a letter in the same newspaper from Francis Curtin reported seeing Madigan recently in South America. He wrote: “We spent an enjoyable afternoon talking together about the home town and the fellows we used to know.”

Madigan’s body was never recovered, and he is listed on memorial stone at the Riverside Cemetery in Winchendon.

Comments and suggestions for Remembering Local World War II Heroes can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Road, Sandwich, MA 02563.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Remember WWII heroes Fred Madigan and William Occhialini of Winchendon