House Republican Press Release

July 11, 2006

Press Office: 860-240-8700

Woodbridge Road to Be Named for Memphis Belle Co-Pilot

WOODBRIDGE – During the last legislative session of the Connecticut General Assembly, Representative Themis Klarides (R-114) introduced legislation to rename a portion of Route 313, Rimmon Road, after Lt. Colonel James Verinis.  Verinis, a Woodbridge native born in New Haven, was an Army Air Force Aviator during World War II and famously co-piloted the B-17 “Flying Fortress,” the Memphis Belle.

In a brief ceremony at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 13^th at the Woodbridge Gazebo, a commemorative sign will be presented to the Verinis family.  Representative Klarides, along with Senator Joe Crisco (D-17) and members of the Woodbridge Board of Selectman will be present for the presentation.

Verinis was a business administration student at the University of Connecticut before entering the service in 1941.  Lt. Colonel Verinis went overseas as co-pilot of the Memphis Belle, which gained fame for being one of the first B-17 planes to successfully complete 25 bombing missions over Germany.  He would spend most of his time overseas piloting his own B-17 named The Connecticut Yankee.

“I felt that it was important to commemorate the important and historical wartime service of Lt. Colonel Verinis in the town he called home,” said Representative Klarides.  “Woodbridge is certainly proud of Lt. Colonel Verinis’s courageous wartime service and this dedication is one small way to thank him.”