Since the beginning of this project, we have located a small number of crew members from the Swiss rescue ship, MS Celerina. They are scattered all over the globe. The ship had a crew of 34 at the time, including the captain. We have located some of them and have acquired a few photos.
Immediately below is a photo of Captain Lugli with his wife and daughter who both helped tending to the injured. The ship’s captain was the only crew member authorized to bring his family.
To Captain Lugli’s left is his wife, Ginlioo, and on his right is daughter, Marie Laura, who was 22 at the time. Captain Luglie is wearing parachute wings above his jacket pocket.
Shown above, from left to right are Second Mate Aurelio Schiano di Pepe, Second Steward Jean-Claude Bovier, OS Pierre-Andre Reymond, and Mess boy Emil Kohler.
Below is a roster of the entire crew. The column “year” refers to year of birth.
Country Code:: I=Italy, CH=Switzerland, NL=Holland
| No. |
Last/First |
Year |
Function |
Country |
Enrolled |
|
1 |
Lugli, Domenico |
1911 |
Captain |
I |
06.05.1959 |
|
2 |
Fossanova Benito |
1911 |
1st Mate |
I |
17.11.1961 |
|
3 |
Schiano di Pepe, Aurelio |
1917 |
2nd Mate |
I |
05.04.1962 |
|
4 |
Razzini, Ormanno |
1933 |
3rd Mate |
I |
05.04.1962 |
|
5 |
Stöckli, Georg |
1932 |
Radio operator |
CH |
17.07.1962 |
|
6 |
Neumann, Antonio |
1924 |
Chief Engineer |
I |
05.04.1962 |
|
7 |
Van Kopenhagen, Hetrbertus |
1932 |
2nd Engineer |
NL |
19.07.1962 |
|
8 |
Michel, Fritz |
1933 |
3rd Engineer |
CH |
06.04.1962 |
|
9 |
Brattoli, Giovanni |
1936 |
4th Engineer |
I |
05.04.1962 |
|
10 |
Amato, Vincenzo |
1923 |
Bosun |
I |
09.01.1962 |
|
11 |
Wunderlin, Walter |
1933 |
Carpenter |
CH |
07.04.1962 |
|
12 |
Corenna, Antonio |
1942 |
AB Sailor |
I |
05.04.1962 |
|
13 |
Fasciano, Paolo |
1929 |
AB Sailor |
I |
09.01.1962 |
|
14 |
Gadaleta, Giuseppe |
1939 |
AB Sailor |
I |
05.04.1939 |
|
15 |
Spampinato, Giuseppe |
1939 |
AB Sailor |
I |
05.04.1962 |
|
16 |
Zaza, Sergio |
1930 |
AB Sailor |
I |
05.04.1939 |
|
17 |
Mazzola, Nicola |
1921 |
AB Sailor |
I |
23.08.1962 |
|
18 |
Garny, Raymond |
1945 |
OS |
CH |
21.11.1961 |
|
19 |
Reymond, Pierre-André |
1943 |
OS |
CH |
01.12.1961 |
|
20 |
Campisi, Giuseppe |
1934 |
Donkeyman |
I |
01.12.1961 |
|
21 |
Janka, Markus |
1940 |
Electrician |
CH |
06.04.1962 |
|
22 |
Cappelluti, Francesco |
1938 |
Motorman |
I |
05.04.1962 |
|
23 |
Facchini, Andrea |
1924 |
Motorman |
I |
05.04.1962 |
|
24 |
Schüpbach, Georg |
1939 |
Motorman |
CH |
11.07.1961 |
|
25 |
Schmid, Jakob |
1941 |
Motorman |
CH |
09.01.1962 |
|
26 |
Mettler, Kurt |
1940 |
Motorman |
CH |
07.04.1962 |
|
27 |
Carnal, Martial |
1942 |
Cleaner |
CH |
20.08.1962 |
|
28 |
Salvemini, Giuseppe |
1942 |
Cleaner |
I |
05.04.1962 |
|
29 |
Unghy, Jean |
1935 |
Chef-Steward |
CH |
16.07.1962 |
|
30 |
Bovier, Jean-Claude |
1941 |
2nd Steward |
CH |
23.01.1962 |
|
31 |
Binggeli, Michel |
1940 |
Chief cook |
CH |
16.07.1962 |
|
32 |
Michel, Andreas |
1941 |
2nd cook |
CH |
20.08.1962 |
|
33 |
Kohler, Emil |
1941 |
Messboy |
CH |
30.08.1962 |
|
34 |
Aeppli, Josef |
1930 |
Messboy |
CH |
23.08.1962 |
Flying Tiger 923 
レンズ
Mine is the miracle story that no one has ever heard
I was eight years old at the time
My mother had arrived at Mcguire Air Force Base 10 minutes late for flight 923. It was my four-year-old brother and six-month old sister and I with her and she explained to the guard at the gate that she needed to board the plane. He told her that he could not let her get on the plane that it was getting ready for takeoff and that she would have to take the next flight out. That plane ladies and gentleman is the one that I was supposed to be on. My father already heard the news as he was waiting for us at the reception at Rhine Main Air Force Base in Frankfurt Germany. Please if there is anyone out there that was on that flight please contact me. Can call me direct at 703-376-1274 or email me thank you
sono il figlio di ormanno razzini abito a lerici in liguria italia è una bella iniziativa
Hello. My name is Marco G.Fossanova. I am son of !st officer Benito Fossanova. He was born on July 23rd, 1923, not in 1911 as reported here, and he is still alive & kicking, 96 y.o.retired in a pensioners house in Genova. My brother Maurizio & I went through his papers and found some evidence of this rescue missing. For this, I went through Internet till when I found this web site. Thanks for Your attention.