WILTON, Conn. — A hero bomber pilot from the Battle of Normandy in World War II was recently recognized in his hometown of Wilton, when a portion of State Route 106 was renamed in his honor.
The ceremony was held at Old Town Hall in Wilton, led by state Rep. Gail Lavielle, according to the Hour website.
The official name is “Air Force First Lieutenant Charles M. Baffo Memorial Highway,” in honor of the U.S. Army Air Force veteran who died Oct. 17, 2014, at the age of 92.
Baffo enlisted when he was 19 years old and in 1944 was assigned to the 490th Bombardment Group and with the 8th Air Force flew both the B-24 and the B-17 Flying Fortress.
As a bomber pilot, he participated in the Allied invasion of Normandy and flew 35 missions over Germany, earning the Distinguished Flying Cross for heroism.
Born in New York, Baffo moved to New Haven after the war to attend Yale University, where he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture. He then settled in Wilton with his wife, Joanne, and they remained there for more than 40 years, raising their four daughters.
Baffo was awarded the Croix de Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur from the French government for heroism.
“Charles Baffo exemplified the virtues of the members of the Greatest Generation, who gave so much of themselves to our country and to the world,” Lavielle said in a statement earlier about naming the road for him. “That his service during World War II has been recognized not only at home but also abroad testifies to its exceptional merit and distinction.
"While anything we might offer could not provide sufficient thanks to Mr. Baffo for his service, his valor, and his selfless devotion to defending our nation in World War II and liberating France, this small gesture of gratitude will help preserve the memory of his name and his extraordinary actions for generations to come.”
Read the full story on the ceremony here at the Hour website.
Read more about Baffo and his accomplishments here on the Daily Voice. A YouTube interview with Baffo completed by the Central Connecticut State University Veterans History Project can be watched here.
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