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1st Lt Joseph L. Bedsole Jr. attended college and was a sales clerk.

He volunteered for the Air Corps of the Army of the United States in Mobile, Alabama on 30 March 1942.

The group was escorted by P-47s. As soon as this escort dived down upon some enemy fighters, a wave of fifteen FW-190s made a head-on attack from a great distance away, coming in slightly below. As they were continuing across the front of the formation, three additional FW-190s using the latter as a screen, suddenly broke beneath them and dove again into the formation. During this attack, seven B-17s from the squadron were shot down.

The airplane was shot down by enemy fighters at 1350 hrs. The gas tank and #3 engine were hit, which was immediately feathered. The entire right wing broke into a mass of flames.

According to statements of surviving crew members, 1st Lt Bedsole was not wearing a parachute or a harness. He was attempting to do so when the airplane went into a spin and exploded, but he didn't have enough time.

Nine crew members were taken prisoner; Lt Bedosle was the only casualty.

He was initially buried at the cemetery of Gumpen, Germany.

He is remembered at Pine Crest Cemetery in Mobile, Alabama.