Burton Wellington Caruso (1915 - 1964)

Born 5 Aug 1915 in Livingston, Park, Montana, United States

Died 4 Nov 1964 at age 49 in Billings, Yellowstone, Montana, United States

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Biography

Burton Caruso was awarded the Prisoner of War Medal (United States).

2nd Lieutenant Burton Caruso served in the United States Army Air Forces in World War II
Service started: 9 April 1942
Unit(s): 508th Bomber Squadron, 351st Bombardment Group, Eighth Air Force
Service ended:

2nd Lieutenant Burton Caruso was a Prisoner of War in Stalag Luft III during World War II.

Burton was born 5 August 1915 in Livingston, Montana. He was the son of Sullivan Caruso and Harriet E Cornellie.

He married Mercedes Osborne 30 December 1941 in Glendive, Montana.^[1][2]

Burton was the co-pilot on a B-17 bomber, #42-29826, on a mission to Huls, Germany on 22 June 1943 when the bomber was shot down. All ten crewmembers survived and became prisoners of war. Burton was held in Stalag Luft III until near the end of the war. He was transferred to Moosburg where he was liberated 29 April 1945 by the 3rd US Army.

He passed away 4 November 1964 in Billings, Montana.^{[3] [4]}

• Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
  Find A Grave: Memorial #60076587 (accessed 17 July 2023)
  Memorial page for Burton Wellington Caruso (5 Aug 1915-4 Nov 1964), citing Custer National Cemetery, Crow Agency, Big Horn County, Montana, USA (plot: Sec F #54); Maintained by Barb McIntosh -Kumpula (contributor 48756175).
• 1930 Census: "United States Census, 1930"
  citing enumeration district (ED) ED 20, sheet 15A, line 1, family 368, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 1264; FHL microfilm 2,340,999.
  FamilySearch Record: XC9Q-21W (accessed 17 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 33S7-9RC9-FX7 Image number 00397
  Burton Caruso (14), single son, in household of Sarefino Caruso (50) in Laurel, Yellowstone, Montana, United States. Born in Montana.
• 1940 Census: "United States Census, 1940"
  citing Affiliate Publication Number: T627; Line: 49;
  FamilySearch Record: VBQM-GHY (accessed 17 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QS7-89M1-V62P
  Burton W Caruso (24), single son, in household of Sullivan F Caruso (60) in Bozeman, Gallatin, Montana, United States. Born in Montana.
• 1950 Census: "United States 1950 Census"
  citing Page: 72; Line: 24;
  FamilySearch Record: 6F78-DY9M (accessed 17 July 2023)
  FamilySearch Image: 3QHK-SQHW-1LNF
  Burton Caruss (34), married, District Representative, head of household in Bismarck, Burleigh, North Dakota, United States. Born in Montana.

Sources

1. ↑ Marriage: "Montana, U.S., County Marriages, 1865-1987"
   Montana State Historical Society; Helena, Montana; Montana, County Marriages, 1865-1950; Certificate Number: 5345
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 61578 #49514 (accessed 17 July 2023)
   Burton Wellington Caruso (26) marriage to Mercedes Maylo Osborne on 30 Dec 1941 in Glendive, Dawson, Montana, USA.
2. ↑ Glendive Girl Weds Tobacco Furm Employe: "Newspapers.com"
   Great Falls tribune (Great Falls, Montana) Sun, Jan 18, 1942, page 14
   Newspapers Clip: 128378549 (accessed 17 July 2023)
3. ↑ Death: "Montana, U.S., State Deaths, 1907-2018"
   Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services; Helena, Montana; Montana Death Records; Certificate Number: 64 6132
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 5437 #1064058 (accessed 17 July 2023)
   Burton Wellington Caruso death 4 Nov 1964 (born 5 Aug 1915), son of Sullivan Caruso & Harriet Elizabeth Cornellie, in Billings, Yellowstone, Montana, USA, mother's maiden name Cornellie.
4. ↑ B. W. Caruso, 49, Is Found Dead: "Newspapers.com"
   The Billings Gazette (Billings, Montana) Thu, Nov 5, 1964, page 20
   Newspapers Clip: 128377533 (accessed 17 July 2023)

• Military: "U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947"
  National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For Montana, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 8
  Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 2238 #24850195 (accessed 17 July 2023)
  Hair Color: Brown; Registration Date: 16 Oct 1940; Weight: 180; Name: Burton Wellington Caruso;
  Household Members (Name) Relationship:
  Burton Wellington Caruso Self (Head); Birth Place: Livingston, Montana, USA; Residence Place: Glendive, Dawson, Montana, USA; Complexion: Dark; Height: 6 2; Next of Kin: Harold Stuehuier; Registration Place: Montana, USA; Gender: Male; Eye Color: Brown; Relationship to Draftee: Self (Head); Employer: United States Tobacco Company; Race: White; Birth Date: 5 Aug 1915; Age: 25.
• Military: "United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946"
  citing "Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938-1946," database, The National Archives: Access to Archival Databases (AAD) (http://aad.archives.gov : National Archives and Records Administration, 2002); NARA NAID 1263923, National Archives at College Park, Maryland.
  FamilySearch Record: K8GX-G4N (accessed 17 July 2023)
  Military Service Place: Missoula, Montana, United States; Reel Box Card: 03053.27; Enlistment Year: 1942; Name: Burton W Caruso; Civil Occupation Orig: 175; Enlistment Year Orig: 42; Serial Number: 19071597; Education Orig: 6; Civil Occupation: Salespersons; Source: Civil Life; Race: White; Branch Code Orig: 20; Marital Status: Married; Source Orig: 0; Military Service Date: 09 Apr 1942; Birth Place: MONTANA; Enlistment Term: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law; Grade Code Orig: 8; Major Force Of Assign: 0; Enlistment Place Orig: 9361; Branch Alpha Orig: AC; Enlistment Day: 09; Birth Date: 1915; Component Orig: 6; Enlistment Term Orig: 5; Education: 2 years of college; Enlistment Place: MISSOULA MONTANA; Grade Code: Private; Enlistment Month: Apr; Arc Identifier: 1263923; Enlistment Month Orig: 04; Event Type: Military Service; Grade Alpha Orig: PVT; Branch Code: Air Corps; Military Occupation: 7318.
• Receives Wings: "Newspapers.com"
  Bozeman Daily Chronicle (Bozeman, Montana) Sun, Mar 14, 1943, page 3
  Newspapers Clip: 128378144 (accessed 17 July 2023)
• Burton W. Caruso Is Missing in Action: "Newspapers.com"
  Livingston Enterprise (Livingston, Montana) Mon, Jul 12, 1943, page 2
  Newspapers Clip: 128377390 (accessed 17 July 2023)
• Prisoner: "Newspapers.com"
  Bozeman Daily Chronicle (Bozeman, Montana) Wed, Aug 4, 1943, page 3
  Newspapers Clip: 128377713 (accessed 17 July 2023)
• 14 Montana Men Are Liberated: "Newspapers.com"
  Livingston Enterprise (Livingston, Montana) Thu, Jun 21, 1945, page 8
  Newspapers Clip: 128377978 (accessed 17 July 2023)
• Military: "U.S., World War II American and Allied Prisoners of War, 1941-1946"
  The National Archives at Washington, D.C.; Washington, D.C.; Record Group Title: Records of the Office of the Provost Marshal General, 1920 - 1975; Record Group Number: 389
  Ancestry Record 8919 #103664 (accessed 17 July 2023)
  Race: White; Camp: Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11; Grade: Second Lieutenant or Nurse or Dietitian or Physical therapy aide; Name: Burton W Caruso; Report Date: 22 Jun 1943; Residence Place: Montana, USA; Arm or Service Code: Air Corps; Report Source: Individual has been reported through sources considered official.; Parent Unit Type: Force or Forces/Fleet/Battalion; Status: Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated; Detaining Country: Germany; Area Served: European Theatre: Holland; Arm or Service: Air Corps; Grade Notes: Second Lieutenant or Ensign; Organization Type: Army Air Forces; Latest Report Date: 12 Jun 1945.
• American Air Museum in Britain - Burton W Caruse
• American Air Museum in Britain - B-17 Bomber #42-29826