Raymond Bonomo

Noank — Raymond Bonomo passed away peacefully in his sleep July 22, 2020. His passing was the same as was his life — on his terms, without frailty and accompanied by his strong faith. He was 101.

Born to Italian immigrants in 1919, in Noank, he grew up working in the Noank Shipyard, until a fateful day in 1943, when he saw two U. S. Army Air Corps fighters land and the pilot pull back the canopy with leather gloves. He was commissioned a U. S. Army Air Corps second lieutenant that December. Qualified as a bombardier- navigator on the B- 29, he saw action in the Pacific Theater flying off of the tiny island of Saipan, where he was one of the first to encounter the 230- knot jet stream; and worked to develop navigational heading procedures to account for its effect. After the war, he remained in the newly formed U. S. Air Force, navigating search and rescue missions in the Consolidated PBY Catalina. Later, as the world moved deeper into the Cold War, he served as a navigator on B- 52 aircraft, where he was prepared to deliver weaponry on targets anywhere in the world. He retired as a lieutenant colonel, and could never be caught without a story or anecdote from his flying days.

He is predeceased by Joan Ann Rollins, his wife, companion and best friend; and his brothers and sisters: Jackie, Gina, Benny, Bea and Bianca. He is survived by his children, Jim and Jill and their families.

The Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl St., Mystic, is assisting the family.