He was a fighter ace in WWII with the 4th Fighter Group and was credited with 7.83 aerial victories. He was shot down over Germany after being jumped by 10 enemy fighters. He was able to shoot down 2 of them before he was killed.
On October 14, 1944, Captain Joseph L. Lang, 22 years old from Boston, Massachusetts, was KIA while flying a P-51D Mustang coded QP-Z with the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Fighter Squadron based at Debden, England.
Capt. Lang joined the 4th FG in late December 1943 and by May 1944 was promoted to Lieutenant. He was also designated Flight Commander of C Flight with the 334th FS. In June, he was promoted designated Flight Commander of B Flight right before participating in Operation FRANTIC II, the Russia Shuttle mission. On his return to Debden, he flew Ralph Hofer’s ship , Salem Representative.
In late September Lieutenant Lang was promoted to Captain.
On his last mission on October 14, 1944, Capt. Lang had to abort the mission after crossing the English Channel. He turned back to Debden alone and was jumped by 10 Me-109s. He downed two in the ensuing dogfight before being shot down.
“This is Lang. I’m down below the clouds with ten ME-109’s, I got two. I don’t know where I am and I need help.”
- Joseph Lang, heard over the R/T some time after aborting from the mission of 14 Oct 44. It was his last transmission.
Captain Lang’s victories with the 4th Fighter Group include 11.83 kills, Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart.
Contributor: usafdo (48612389)
On October 14, 1944, Captain Joseph L. Lang, 22 years old from Boston, Massachusetts, was KIA while flying a P-51D Mustang coded QP-Z with the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Fighter Squadron based at Debden, England.
Capt. Lang joined the 4th FG in late December 1943 and by May 1944 was promoted to Lieutenant. He was also designated Flight Commander of C Flight with the 334th FS. In June, he was promoted designated Flight Commander of B Flight right before participating in Operation FRANTIC II, the Russia Shuttle mission. On his return to Debden, he flew Ralph Hofer’s ship , Salem Representative.
In late September Lieutenant Lang was promoted to Captain.
On his last mission on October 14, 1944, Capt. Lang had to abort the mission after crossing the English Channel. He turned back to Debden alone and was jumped by 10 Me-109s. He downed two in the ensuing dogfight before being shot down.
“This is Lang. I’m down below the clouds with ten ME-109’s, I got two. I don’t know where I am and I need help.”
- Joseph Lang, heard over the R/T some time after aborting from the mission of 14 Oct 44. It was his last transmission.
Captain Lang’s victories with the 4th Fighter Group include 11.83 kills, Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart.
Contributor: usafdo (48612389)
He was a fighter ace in WWII with the 4th Fighter Group and was credited with 7.83 aerial victories. He was shot down over Germany after being jumped by 10 enemy fighters. He was able to shoot down 2 of them before he was killed.
On October 14, 1944, Captain Joseph L. Lang, 22 years old from Boston, Massachusetts, was KIA while flying a P-51D Mustang coded QP-Z with the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Fighter Squadron based at Debden, England.
Capt. Lang joined the 4th FG in late December 1943 and by May 1944 was promoted to Lieutenant. He was also designated Flight Commander of C Flight with the 334th FS. In June, he was promoted designated Flight Commander of B Flight right before participating in Operation FRANTIC II, the Russia Shuttle mission. On his return to Debden, he flew Ralph Hofer’s ship , Salem Representative.
In late September Lieutenant Lang was promoted to Captain.
On his last mission on October 14, 1944, Capt. Lang had to abort the mission after crossing the English Channel. He turned back to Debden alone and was jumped by 10 Me-109s. He downed two in the ensuing dogfight before being shot down.
“This is Lang. I’m down below the clouds with ten ME-109’s, I got two. I don’t know where I am and I need help.”
- Joseph Lang, heard over the R/T some time after aborting from the mission of 14 Oct 44. It was his last transmission.
Captain Lang’s victories with the 4th Fighter Group include 11.83 kills, Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart.
Contributor: usafdo (48612389)
On October 14, 1944, Captain Joseph L. Lang, 22 years old from Boston, Massachusetts, was KIA while flying a P-51D Mustang coded QP-Z with the 4th Fighter Group, 334th Fighter Squadron based at Debden, England.
Capt. Lang joined the 4th FG in late December 1943 and by May 1944 was promoted to Lieutenant. He was also designated Flight Commander of C Flight with the 334th FS. In June, he was promoted designated Flight Commander of B Flight right before participating in Operation FRANTIC II, the Russia Shuttle mission. On his return to Debden, he flew Ralph Hofer’s ship , Salem Representative.
In late September Lieutenant Lang was promoted to Captain.
On his last mission on October 14, 1944, Capt. Lang had to abort the mission after crossing the English Channel. He turned back to Debden alone and was jumped by 10 Me-109s. He downed two in the ensuing dogfight before being shot down.
“This is Lang. I’m down below the clouds with ten ME-109’s, I got two. I don’t know where I am and I need help.”
- Joseph Lang, heard over the R/T some time after aborting from the mission of 14 Oct 44. It was his last transmission.
Captain Lang’s victories with the 4th Fighter Group include 11.83 kills, Distinguished Flying Cross with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters and a Purple Heart.
Contributor: usafdo (48612389)
Gravesite Details
Entered the Service from Massachusetts.
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