Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MC GETTIGAN, Joseph Francis - Date of
birth
28 January 1924 -
Age
21 - Place of
birth
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania -
Hometown
Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
13151792 -
Rank
Staff Sergeant -
Function
Assistant Engineer -
Unit
347th Bombardment Squadron,
99th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Air Medal with 6 Oak Leaf Clusters
Death
-
Status
Died non-Battle - Date of
death
15 April 1945 - Place of
death
Stalag Luft 3 Sagan-Silesia Bavaria (Moved to Nuremberg-Langwasser) 49-11
Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 26 | 14 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Agnes G. (Connor) Mc Gettigan (mother)
Margaret Mc Gettigan (sister)
William Mc Gettigan (brother)
Deloras Mc Gettigan (sister)
Mary E. Mc Gettigan (wife)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-32014 -
Data
Type: B-17G
Nickname: Pappy Yokum
Destination: Varese, Italy
Mission: Aircraft/munitions plant
MACR: 4610
More information
S/Sgt Joseph F. McGettigan was a shipping clerk before he volunteered for the US Army in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on 27 October 1942.Upon approaching the mainland, they were met my German fighters (reported to be Messerschmitt ME110s). The aircraft’s right wing was reportedly struck by incendiary rounds and the fuel tank between the number 3 and 4 engines was ignited. Losing altitude and speed the pilot salvoed the bombs and the aircraft was abandoned.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov – WWII Enlistment Record / World War II Prisoners of War Data File, www.ancestry.com - U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S. Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil / Pennsylvania, Veteran Compensation Application Files, WWII / 1930 Census, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Peter Schouteten