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name
FLORES, Joseph - Date of
birth
26 October 1921 -
Age
22 - Place of
birth
Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts -
Hometown
Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O-707254 -
Rank
Second Lieutenant -
Function
Navigator -
Unit
4th Bombardment Squadron,
34th Bombardment Group, Heavy
-
Awards
Purple Heart,
Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
24 August 1944 - Place of
death
Kraienwisch, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Ardennes
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| B | 24 | 2 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Jacinthe Flores (father)
Irene Flores (sister)
Raymond Flores (brother)
Plane data
- Serial
number
42-94780 -
Data
Type: B-24H
Nickname: Smitty
Target: Kiel, Germany
MACR: 8463
More information
2nd Lt Joseph Flores graduated from B.M.C. Durfee High School and attended the Henrick's Institute. He was employed in construction work as a carpenter.He joined the Air Corps of the U.S. Army Reserve at Fort Rodman, Massachusetts on 22 September 1942.
The airplane received a direct flak hit in the #1 engine. The engine burst into flames which seemed to spread over the entire aircraft. The left wing disintegrated as the plane went down. One crew reported that this plane exploded near the ground.
One crew member survived and was taken prisoner. Seven men were killed.
His brother Raymond also served with the Army Air Corps and was killed in the Southwest Pacific on 16 November 1942.
Source of information: Terry Hirsch, Raf Dyckmans, Carla Mans, WWII Draft Card, www.fold3.com
Photo source: Jac Engels, Dan Sheahan, Reference Staff Fall River Main Library - Herald News 31 January 1945, Durfee High School 1939