- Date Of Birth: April 11, 1924
- Date Of Death: December 30, 2011
- State: Connecticut
Robert W. Mazzacane, 87 of Trumbull passed away on Dec. 30, 2011 in Wichita, KS. Born April 11, 1924 in New Haven, son of the late Joseph B. and Helen Connors Mazzacane. He graduated from Hillhouse High School in 1941 and enlisted in the Air Force in 1942. He flew 12 missions over Europe in the 100th Bomb Group of the 8th Air Force until his plane “Rosie’s Riveters” was shot down on May 12, 1944 over central Germany. He was held as a prisoner of war in Stalag Luft IV in the Polish Corridor until the Russian Army advanced across Poland and when they came close to the camp it was evacuated in February of 1945. He was on a forced march for 88 days and 500 miles across northern Germany with little food or shelter until liberated by the English Army. He holds the Air Medal, POW Medal, Purple Heart, World War II Victory Medal and several other regional medals.Robert was also awarded the French Legion of Honor for his part in French Liberation. He belonged to a number of veterans associations including the Connecticut Chapter of Ex-POWS. He married Louise L. Lan Franco in 1948 and she assisted him in his effort to obtain a degree in Electrical Engineering from Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY in 1950. He worked for General Electric for 43 years as an engineer on small electrical consumer products and was granted several patents and management awards. He became a specialist in product safety and product liability and was accepted as an expert witness in 12 jury trials.
