Joseph Frank Strukel
Military ROLL OF HONOURAdded better photo than UPL 19500
Born in Minnesota, Joseph Strukel moved with his family to Milwaukee, Wisconsin when he was five. He attended Boys Technical High School in Milwaukee where he took Machine Shop as his technical choice. Before his enlistment in the Air Corps in June 1942, he was working at the International Harvester Co. plant in Milwaukee. He trained in aerial engineering and gunnery at various places, among which Moses Lake, Washington (598 Bomb Squadron) and the Flexible Gunnery School in Kingman, Arizona. Joe joined the William Quaintance crew at Geiger Field before they were sent overseas to England in October 1943. Assigned to the 306th Bomb Group / 369th Bomb Squadron, Joe flew on all of Lt Quaintance's missions, thus at least 13, one aborted and another probable but not verifiable on 20 February 1944. Joe was promoted to Technical Sergeant on 15 February 1944, a week before the 22 February mission to the JU88 plant at Bernburg, Germany, when he was Killed In Action in the loss of B-17# 42-31695, shot down by fighters on the return flight.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33551808
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31158525
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator / Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 17128889
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 34201982 and O-632869
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group 369th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 13056724 and O-739471
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 306th Bomb Group
Missions
- Date: 22 February 1944
Places
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: Bedford
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Chisholm, Minnesota, United States | 20 March 1923 | the son of Anton and Marien Strukel |
Enlisted |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | 23 October 1942 | as a Private in the Air Corps |
Other Killed in Action (KIA) |
near Kirchen, Siegen, Germany | 22 February 1944 | in the crash of B-17G # 42-31695 |
Buried |
Kirchen, Germany | 26 February 1944 | Initially buried at the Kirchen cemetery |
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States | |||
Buried |
Fort Snelling National Cemetery, Minneapolis, Minnesota | his remains were brought back to the United States after the war. Joseph Strukel rests in Minnesota in a common grave with his Pilot William Quaintance |
Revisions
Added details to Biography, from data supplied by his nephew, Jerry Zak
Added a better photo than the one at UPL 19500
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 2652 / MACR 2652, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database