Gen. Emmanuel Schifani
Click any image to enlarge
…..Images and documents from Schifani Family and USAF Records
Gen. Schifani was born on July 12, 1916 in York, PA. He attended grade and high school at St. Mary’s and graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1935. Gen. Schifani attended the University of New Mexico, class of 1939. He was also a graduate of the Air Force Flying School, the Command and General Staff School, the Air War College and the National War College.
Gen. Schifani entered the Royal Air Force in 1940 and in 1942 entered the U.S. Air Force, flying 65 combat missions in B-26 bombers in Europe with the 344th BG 495th BS.
He was recalled to service during the Korean Conflict in which he flew 20 combat missions. Gen. Schifani returned to the Air National Guard Reserve Force and became Chief of Staff and also Adjutant General of the State of New Mexico. He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve at the rank of Lieutenant General. During Gen. Schifani’s distinguished service career, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, State of New Mexico Distinguished Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Presidential Citation and several campaign and service medals.
Notes about Schifani:
Lt. Col. Witty’s assumption of Command elevated Lt. Col. Guy Anderson, Group Operations Officer to the Deputy Commander post, and Major Emmanuel Schifani, Operations Officer of the 495th Bombardment Squadron to the Group Operations positions.
• Lt. Colonel Emanual Schifani, Group Operations Officer (then Squadron Operations Officer) received the D.F.C. 24 January 1945, GO 15, Hq 9AF, for his leadership in the mission against Trier, 4 November, 1944, and subsequently while assigned to the Group received his Eighth Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster on 21 November 1944, GO 32, Hq IX BD.
Missions and Documentation:
His plane lead the second box of aircraft.
March 20, 1944 Criel, France Mission:
March 20, 1944, the attacks were focused upon construction sites to a marshaling yard located at Creil, France. Led by Col. Vance, thirty-seven Marauders of the Group struck at this important rail center, dropping 266 X 250-pound bombs and 344 X 100-pound bombs, hitting goods wagons, tracks and buildings with good results. No loss or damage occurred to the bomb group during this flight.
Schifani did not fly the famous first mission of D-Day on June 6, 1944 to the beaches of Normandy. Later in the day he flew beyond the beaches on a mission to limit the enemy shipments of supplies, artillery, and reinforcements.
D-Day Mission 2:
344th Bomb Group Silver Streaks– In the afternoon of June 6, 37 planes went to Amiens to again attack the marshaling yard. 24 ships bombed with fair to good results.The flak was accurate and 20 of the planes received minor battle damage.
From Time Over Targets:
Dec. 23 came–clear, blue, sparkling in the winter sun. In tents, eager flyers were briefed. From the line came the roar of engines from crew chiefs pretesting ships, which ordinance men had bomb-loaded in the bitter cold of the night just ended.
Four hundred bombers of the 9th Bombardment division rose from the French bases to attack roads and railways that fed the growing bulge. This day was to be the greatest since D-Day. For a few moments the weather seemed partly wasted; several Groups could not contact their fighter escort.
Should they follow standard policy and turn back? They kept going. In the area of the targets, prowling enemy fighters spotted the Marauders and came in. Marauder gunners, some of whom had never seen an enemy fighter, gripped their guns for the most furious air battle in Division history.
• 23 December 1944
Target: EUSKIRCHEN RAILROAD BRIDGE (Battle of the Bulge)
495 Sqd – The railroad bridge at Euskirchen in the breakthrough area was attacked when Major Schifani led the Group. They encountered intense flak but only slight battle damage was suffered by this Squadron. The bridge was bombed with good results and all aircraft returned.
Some of the rest of the bomb groups had some harrowing experiences as described in the official press release below.
July 7, 1944 Railroad Bridge Tours, La Riche, France
Saw 15 Barrage balloons and 8 pieces of field artillary.
Schifani Around Town:
Schifani’s Planes:
Schifani earned an impressive number of awards-
Obituary:
Emmanuel Schifani, 83, a resident of Albuquerque, died Saturday, December 18, 1999. He is survived by his son, William G. Schifani and his two children, Allison and Christine and their mother, Ruth M. Schifani; as well as his son, David A. Schifani and wife, Marian, and their two children, Christopher and Kate. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred. Gen. Schifani was born on July 12, 1916 in York, PA. He attended grade and high school at St. Mary’s and graduated from Albuquerque High School in 1935. Gen. Schifani attended the University of New Mexico, class of 1939. He was also a graduate of the Air Force Flying School, the Command and General Staff School, the Air War College and the National War College. Gen. Schifani entered the Royal Air Force in 1940 and in 1942 entered the U.S. Air Force, flying 65 combat missions in B26 bombers in Europe. He was recalled to service during the Korean Conflict in which he flew 20 combat missions. Gen. Schifani returned to the Air National Guard Reserve Force and became Chief of Staff and also Adjutant General of the State of New Mexico. He retired from the U.S. Air Force Reserve at the rank of Lieutenant General. During Gen. Schifani’s distinguished service career, he received the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star, Air Medal with 9 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal, State of New Mexico Distinguished Service Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, Korean Presidential Citation and several campaign and service medals. General Schifani joined Springer Corporation in 1945 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer. At the time of his retirement in June 1974 he held the position of Chairman of the Board. General Schifani served on several boards and committees including the Secretary of the Air Force Policy Committee for three years, the U.S.O. National Council, Past State Campaign Chairman of the U.S.O., Member of the National Red Cross Organization Committee in Washington D.C., Past President of the local Red Cross Chapter in New Mexico, Member of the Armed Forces Advisory Committee, Former Vice President of the Cancer Society Chapter, Former President of the Polio Foundation of New Mexico, Past Director and Campaign Leader of U.C.F., Former Chairman of Nazareth Hospital Board, St. Joseph’s Hospital Board, Casa Angelica Board, Vice President and President Elect of the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, City Commissioner of the City of Albuquerque, Board Member of Visitors and Governors of St. John’s College of Annapolis, MD and Santa Fe, NM, Director of the Bank of New Mexico, Allied Van Lines, Inc., Past Director of Mountain States Employers Council in Denver, CO and American Home Security Life Insurance Company. He also served as Past President of the New Mexico Symphony Orchestra, Metro”70’s” and Chairman of the Albuquerque Growth Committee, the Industrial Foundation of Albuquerque, and the Albuquerque Urban Coalition. General Schifani received the 4th degree of the Order of Knights of Columbus and was a founder and campaign chairman of the Carmelite Cloistered Convent. He was also a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher and the Holy Cross of Jerusalem. He was a Past President of the Albuquerque Petroleum Club and senior active in the Rotary Club.
