Joseph served as a First Lieutenant & Co-Pilot on B-17G #42-102643, 326th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomber Group, 8th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.

B-17G #42-102643 took off, with a crew of 9, from Station 109, England on a bombing mission over Frevant, France. The were hit by extreme ground anti-aircraft fire and crashed near St. Saire, France.

Joseph was "Killed In Action" while still in the B-17 due to extreme injuries suffered by flak while on this mission during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-819132

( see news article below for more on Joseph )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17G #42-102643:

Dooner, James J ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, MA
Johnson, Donald M ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, NM
Markello, Joseph ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Nelson, Lawrence R ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, ND
Ruckreigle, Lawrence ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, MI

The rest of the crew survived the crash.

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hamburg Sun and Erie County Independent - June 9, 1948

Funeral services were held May 26 in the First Congregational Church, N. Collins, for Lt. Joseph Markello who was shot down over Frevant, France, July 8, 1944. Lt Markello had won the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters for his combat service with the 92nd Bomber Division. A 1941 North Collins High School graduate, Lt. Markello received his wings at Blythville Field, Blythville, Ark., in April 1944. He joined the Air Force in 1942 and received his basic training at Nashville, Tenn. Lt. Markello was born in Clymer and leaves besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Markello, five brothers and two sisters.

( Burial & Article found by: Anne Cady )

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Joseph served as a First Lieutenant & Co-Pilot on B-17G #42-102643, 326th Bomber Squadron, 92nd Bomber Group, 8th Air Force, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

He resided in Erie County, New York prior to the war.

B-17G #42-102643 took off, with a crew of 9, from Station 109, England on a bombing mission over Frevant, France. The were hit by extreme ground anti-aircraft fire and crashed near St. Saire, France.

Joseph was "Killed In Action" while still in the B-17 due to extreme injuries suffered by flak while on this mission during the war.

He was awarded the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters and the Purple Heart.

Service # O-819132

( see news article below for more on Joseph )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Airmen who perished on B-17G #42-102643:

Dooner, James J ~ 1st Lt, Navigator, MA
Johnson, Donald M ~ 1st Lt, Bombardier, NM
Markello, Joseph ~ 1st Lt, Co-Pilot, NY
Nelson, Lawrence R ~ T/Sgt, Engineer, ND
Ruckreigle, Lawrence ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, MI

The rest of the crew survived the crash.

( Bio & Crew Report by: Russ Pickett )

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Hamburg Sun and Erie County Independent - June 9, 1948

Funeral services were held May 26 in the First Congregational Church, N. Collins, for Lt. Joseph Markello who was shot down over Frevant, France, July 8, 1944. Lt Markello had won the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf clusters for his combat service with the 92nd Bomber Division. A 1941 North Collins High School graduate, Lt. Markello received his wings at Blythville Field, Blythville, Ark., in April 1944. He joined the Air Force in 1942 and received his basic training at Nashville, Tenn. Lt. Markello was born in Clymer and leaves besides his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ross Markello, five brothers and two sisters.

( Burial & Article found by: Anne Cady )

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