Born Antonio Francesco Aiello on 15 Jun 1924 in Hoboken, Hudson Co, NJ, the youngest of eleven children born to Italian immigrant parents Francesco Aiello and Maria Antonia Teresa Caterina Romano.

Tony attended Cliffside Park High School in Bergen Co, NJ.

He enlisted as a Private in the U.S. Army Air Corps on 06 May 1943 at Newark, Hudson Co, NJ. After over a year of training at bases around the country, he became a Bombardier and was deployed to the European theatre, Southern Italy.

On 11 Dec 1944, he was on his fifth mission, a bombing raid over Vienna, when his plane took a direct hit from an 88 MM which blew off part of the wing, according to the only survivor of the crew, Sgt Matthew G. Strait.

"I saw the navigator getting his chute on just before I bailed out, and also saw the pilot and co-pilot trying to get the plane under control. It is my belief that the plane blew up just after I bailed out, because on my way down I saw parts of the plane floating down past me, and couldn't find any trace of the aircraft in the sky whatsoever. We did have a direct hit with an 88 MM which blew off part of the wing." - Sgt M G Strait.

Tony used words like golly gee and swell. He was full of energy and a real cut-up. He always had a smile and could always make you laugh. He loved his Momma and Papa. He was incredibly close to his six sisters and three brothers. He wrote long letters home, full of strong and moving emotions, which he expressed with great eloquence and always with that great wit of his.

When his aircraft was finally found and his body and those of his fellow crew members were recovered from where the local inhabitants had respectfully buried them; in accordance with his father's wishes, Tony's remains were put to final rest with the men he served and died with.

776th Bomber Squadron, 464th Bomber Group, Heavy; U.S. Army Air Forces

He was awarded the Purple Heart.