Christopher S. Domitrovich
Christopher Samuel Domitrovich was born 30 Oct 1914 in Granite City, Madison County, Illinois. His parents were Nicholas Domitrovich (1872-1922) and Annie P Kure Domitrovich (1885-1973). He had three brothers; Peter and Nicholas (who married Mary Anzalone Domitrovich (1916-2005); and two sisters; Anna and Catherine. According to the Federal Census of 1930, the family lived at 1425 Madison Ave. in Granite City IL. Christopher was 15 at the time. The 1940 Census had the family living at 1821 Madison Ave. Christopher had completed two years of high school and was employed full time as a laborer. He reported his income as $85.00. He was now 25 years old. Christopher registered for the draft on 16 Oct 1940. He reported his employer was B E Hohlt Inc Ford Sales. He listed a “friend”, Mathew Gasparovich, as his contact.
Christopher was a SSgt. and Flight Engineer, part of the Troop Carrier Command. His serial number was 36054843. He participated in the Normandy Campaign (D-Day) on 6-Jun 1944.
On 17-Sep 1944, Christopher was reported missing over Holland, most likely during Operation Market Garden. Operation Market Garden was a bold but ultimately failed Allied plan during World War II to rapidly advance into Germany by capturing key bridges in the Netherlands. The plan, devised by Field Marshal Bernard Montgomery, involved a large-scale airborne operation (Market) followed by ground forces (Garden) to exploit the bridges. The Belleville News Democrat reported him safe on 10-Nov 1944. He returned home in December.
Below is the “Missing Air Crew Report” (MACR) from the flight that Christopher took on September 17, 1944.
Crewmembers were:
- Donald A. Pahlow Pilot
- William F. Baker, Co-pilot
- Rollin D. Ellis, Radio Operator
- TSgt Christopher S. Domitrovich
- William Wade, Passenger
- Tom Hoge, Correspondent
Christopher S. Domitrovich, Tech Sergeant serial number 36054843, 72nd troop carrier squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group, APO 133, US Army. Christopher flew on a The C-47 Skytrain. The Skytrain is a military variant of the Douglas DC-3, was a crucial transport aircraft during World War II. It was used to carry troops, supplies, and paratroopers, and even towed gliders. General Dwight D. Eisenhower considered it one of the key pieces of equipment that helped the Allies win the war.
He was returned to my unit on 7-Nov 1944.
Christopher made it back to Allied lines and returned home. On a flight in New York, Sgt. Domitrovich was one of the three crew members aboard the B-25 aircraft “Old John Feather Merchant,” when it struck the Empire State Building on 28-Jul 1945.
For more of this hero’s story, click on the pdf below.
Chris’ plane was shot downs during Operation Market Garden in September 1944. In December 1945, the family that helped Chris make it back to Allied lines wrote Chris’ family. They had just learned of Chris’ death in the accident in New York. The letter is in their own words and unedited. The letter gives specific details how “Johnny” and “Louis” risked their lives hiding Chris from the Germans and was able to get him safely to Allied lines.
