SAUGUS — More than seven decades after their father died in World War II, the children of Master Sgt. Thomas Virnelli felt like he was alive again.
Virnelli — known as “Pop” by many — was a war hero. The Saugus resident dedicated much of his life to serving the country, first in World War I and later, while in his early 50s, in World War II.
To his children, he was much more than that. To Thomas Jr., Mary, Frank, and Jim, “Papa” was a legend.
“He was brave,” said Mary Virnelli, now 82. “He was courageous. Not everybody could do what he did.”
But much of his life was unknown to his children until a ceremony at Otis Air National Guard Base last spring, in which a room was dedicated in his honor.
Thomas Virnelli was born on Nov. 18 of 1892 or 1893; his date of birth varies on different documents, according to his children. He immigrated from Italy at about age 15 and volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army during World War I.
When he returned home to Saugus, he became an accomplished pilot and aviation advocate. He flew for American Airlines and founded the Eastern Aero Club in Revere in 1928.
In 1930, he joined the 101st Observation Squadron, now known as the U.S. Air Force‘s 101st Intelligence Squadron.
Six years later he founded Boston- and New Bedford-based Mayflower Airlines, serving Nantucket, Hyannis, Provincetown, Martha’s Vineyard, and Springfield.
Instead of remaining with the unit and flying anti-submarine patrols off the New England coast as World War II approached, he volunteered to serve overseas.
Virnelli entered federal service on Nov. 25, 1940 as a founding member of the 72nd Liaison Squadron. He was put in charge of the engineering section during the unit’s activation because of his age and his family at home, said Frank Virnelli.
It was his duty to make sure the squadron was ready for their deployments to Algeria, Italy, and France. Because of his exemplary performance, he remained a leader in the engineering section for the remainder of his career. He earned a Bronze Star and Air Medal for his exceptional performance in combat operation.
On Jan. 24, 1945, Thomas Virnelli was killed when his aircraft hit an unmarked high tension wire while in low-level flight at night. He lost control and struck a tree, said Frank Virnelli.
After his death, his wife, Mary, burned the letters they had penned to one another while he was away. Their children believe the letters were too private and she didn’t want anyone to read them, or maybe they were too personal and she couldn’t bring herself to keep reading them.
She didn’t speak often about their father or his time in the service and many of his operations were classified until recently, said Frank Virnelli, now 79.
It wasn’t until the ceremony at Otis Air National Guard Base that they learned about most of his career.
“It made him very much alive for us — we were all so young when we lost him,” said Mary Virnelli, who teased that she had always been the favorite. “He loved this country. He wasn’t from this country but he wanted to give back.”
She pointed out that though her two younger brothers might not remember much about their father’s personality, they each carry on his qualities. Frank Virnelli gives back in his capacity as a doctor, traveling to different countries to help others. Jim, now 78, became an Eagle Scout and spent more than three decades as a leader, helping others reach for the same goal.
Thomas Virnelli built the family’s home on Homeland Avenue with his own hands. His children remember that he was short because of how low the ceiling is in the basement. They remember him coming home after long periods of time, wearing a parachute in the living room, and Mary Virnelli remembers the day he walked in and picked up the curly blond haired baby (Jim) instead of her.
In getting together and talking about their dad, the three siblings shared memories and built new ones. Their older brother, Thomas Virnelli, Jr. has since died.
“It brought us together,” said Frank Virnelli. “To have this person who had been dead for 70 something years and suddenly, he was alive. It was wonderful.”
