Memorial

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Joseph R. Gonder was a smith.

He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve on 12 March 1943 at the Nashville Air Corps Facilities in Tennessee.

Statement of 1st Lt William T. Housholder, who flew in the same mission: "I was flying Blue 3 with Lt Gonder on my wing as Blue 4. When we crossed out of the continent, we dropped down to 1,000, to test fire guns. After firing guns, we pulled up to approximately 2,000 feet. I checked and Lt Gondor was in position, then he called and said, 'I can't get my engine started.' I looked around, and he was about 1,000 feet off the water. The ship water-looped 180 degrees, then after, he bellied it in. After 10 seconds, the nose sank and the plane disappeared without Lt Gondor getting out. After the ship was completely underwater, Lt Gondor came to the surface. I was flying in a very tight circle watching him. I noticed the chute out of the pack and sinking slowly. I watched him sink and then circled, using the yellow seat pad as a check point, for 15 minutes, but never saw him again. He never opened his dingy, but it appeared that his 'Mae West' was inflated, and the weight of the chute and dingy dragged him down."

Lt Gonder didn't return from his twelfth mission.

Lt Housholder was himself killed in action three weeks later. He is buried at Ardennes Cemetery.