Joel Lee Crouch

Military
D-Day, first Pathfinder crew. Serial #1 Chalk #1 UPL 80537 UPL 80537 Chalk #1, Serial #1 - C-47 42-93098 and crew.

Standing L to R: Nav Capt William Culp, Pilot Lt Col Joel L Crouch, Radio Cpl Harold E Coonrod, Co-pilot Capt Vito S Pedone.
Kneeling L to R: Surgeon Capt Edward E Cannon, Crew Chief Edward F. Laurendeau

Cropped from image UPL 28821 (media id 29473)

personnal knowledge.

Object Number - UPL 80537 - Chalk #1, Serial #1 - C-47 42-93098 and crew. Standing L to R: Nav Capt William Culp, Pilot Lt Col Joel L Crouch, Radio Cpl Harold E Coonrod,...

Pre-war a pilot for United Airlines, flying passengers between Los Angeles and Seattle. Assigned to IX Troop Carrier Command, 9AF USAAF. Flew lead aircraft in the invasion of Sicily Jul-43 and at Salerno, Italy, in Sep-43. As Lt Col piloted lead aircraft of lead serial to drop pathfinder paratroops at zone A, St-Germain-de-Varrevill, France on D-day 6-Jun-44.



Awards: DFC (OLC), AM (3OLC), WWII Victory, EAME (4 x Battle Star).

Connections

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Units served with

People

D-Day, first Pathfinder crew to be back after mission over Normandy
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: IX Air Force Troop Carrier Command
  • Service Numbers: O-1821169
  • Highest Rank: Major
  • Role/Job: Surgeon
D-Day, first Pathfinder crew to be back after mission over Normandy
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: IX Air Force Troop Carrier Command
  • Service Numbers: 17098857
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
D-Day, first Pathfinder crew to be back after mission over Normandy
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: IX Air Force Troop Carrier Command
  • Service Numbers: O-?
  • Highest Rank: Captain
  • Role/Job: Navigator
D-Day, first Pathfinder crew to be back after mission over Normandy
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Service Numbers: 14051388 / O-36301
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Co-Pilot

Aircraft

D-Day, first Pathfinder crew. Serial #1 Chalk #1
  • Aircraft Type: C-47 Skytrain
  • Unit: 439th Troop Carrier Group 94th Troop Carrier Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Clay County, MN, USA 22 November 1910 Son of Roy C and Edythe Crouch.

Other

Pilot Chalk #1 Serial #1 D-day

50480 Saint-Germain-de-Varreville, France 6 June 1944 Piloted lead aircraft of lead serial to drop zone A St-Germain-de-Varrevill, France on D-day 6-Jun-44.

Died

Honolulu, HI, USA 16 August 1997

Buried/ Commemorated

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Honolulu Honolulu County HIi 19 August 1997 National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Honolulu Honolulu County Hawaii, USA
Riverside, California, USA

Other

Flew lead aircraft Op Husky

Sicily, Italy Flew lead aircraft in the invasion of Sicily, Jul-43. Operation Husky.

Other

Flew lead aircraft Op Avalanche

Salerno, Province of Salerno, Italy Flew lead aircraft in the invasion of Salerno, Italy, in Sep-43. Operation Avalanche.

Joel Lee Crouch: Gallery (3 items)