Joseph Leo Lang
Military ROLL OF HONOUR'Eighty-One Aces of the 4th Fighter Group' by Frank Speer.
Joe was born in Boston, Massachusetts, on 27 June 1922. He took his pilot training in the Royal Canadian Air Force and engaged in combat with the Royal Air Force prior to transferring to the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Squadron on 28 December 1943. On 19 May he was credited with his first victory when he destroyed an Me-109 and a flying boat near Wismar, Germany. He became an "Ace" on 21 June near Warsaw, Poland, on the first leg of the shuttle-run to Russia. He shot down one of a group of 20-plus Me-109s attacking the bombers after they dropped their bombs on Lezno, Poland.
He was promoted to Captain, but he met his fate over Manheim, Germany, after downing two more Me-109s on 14 October 1944.His final transmission, picked up by his separated wingman, was, "This is Lang. I'm down below the clouds with 10 Me-109s. I got two. I don't know where I am and I need help". Apparently the 109s were able to down him before help could arrive. His remains were removed from the burning wreckage of his plane.
Joe was credited with 11.8 enemy aircraft destroyed and was awarded the Distinguished flying Cross with three Oak Leaf Clusters and the Air Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Fighter
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Nicknames: Soldiers Vote
- Unit: 352nd Fighter Group 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron 486th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron
- Aircraft Type: P-51 Mustang
- Unit: 4th Fighter Group 334th Fighter Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Born |
Boston, MA, USA | 27 June 1922 | |
Other Assigned |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 28 December 1943 - 14 October 1944 | Assigned to 334FS, 4FG, 8AF USAAF. |
Other Promoted |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 8 May 1944 | Promoted to 1st Lieutenant. |
Other Promoted |
Debden, Saffron Walden, Essex CB11, UK | 25 September 1944 | Promoted to Captain. |
Died Promoted |
Mannheim, Germany | 14 October 1944 | Aborted after crossing the Channel, turned back alone. En route to Debden he was jumped by 10 x Bf109's. He downed two in the ensuing dogfight before being overwhelmed. KIA. MACR 9495. |
Buried |
Revisions
Personal research & 'Eighty-One Aces of the 4th Fighter Group' by Frank Speer.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 9495 / MACR 9495, Losses of the 8th & 9th Air Forces / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database / Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list