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Wall of Honor Level:
Air and Space Friend

Honored by:
Ms. Pat Matusiak

1946: Joe signed up for the military draft on his 18th birthday and the following week voluntarily enlisted into the United States Army Air Force. Basic training was at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio Texas followed by Aircraft Engine and Specialist School at Keesler Field Air Force Base in Biloxi Mississippi. Following specialist training Joe was stationed at Pope Army Air Field at Fort Bragg North Carolina. Within 1½ months Joe became a crew chief and flight mechanic on C47 aircraft.

1½ years later Joe was sent to Rhein Main Air Base near Frankfort Germany to participate in the Berlin Airlift. With an original assignment a 45 days of temporary duty Joe ended up spending 270 days as flight engineer on C54s flying the southern corridor route from Frankfort to Berlin. Joe worked aircraft maintenance in Germany for three more months.

Joe returned to the Untied States the end of April 1949 and went back to flying C47s. In July 1949 Joe reenlisted for three more years. In January and February 1950 Joe was assigned to support military maneuvers in Puerto Rico. Next Joe worked as a crew chief and flight engineer on the B26 aircraft and later on the B25 aircraft.

In June 1950 Joe was sent to the Marshall Islands for 11 months. May 1951 Joe was sent back to Pope Field to work with the Joint Air Ground Instruction Team to demonstrate air support of ground troops.

In December of 1951 Joe returned home to New Berlin Wisconsin to get married, this was the end of his flying days. Classified as senior Aircraft Reciprocating Engine Specialist Joe went on to train mechanics and electricians to perform special engine work on all types of aircraft engines, everything from the 6 cylinder opposed engine on liaison planes to the 28 cylinder 4360 radial engine on C124s. Joe's enlistment was extended for 6 months more months and Joe was discharged January 1953.