Sgt Joseph Francis Murray

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Sgt Joseph Francis Murray

Birth
Pennsylvania, USA
Death
21 May 1943 (aged 22)
New Ireland, Papua New Guinea
Burial
Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA Add to Map
Plot
Memorial Section F Site 46-C-2
Memorial ID
View Source
He was the son of Miles M and Bertha Murray.

Murray was the tail gunner on B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.

In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Only three managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean.

He received the Silver Star, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart. Murray is also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.
He was the son of Miles M and Bertha Murray.

Murray was the tail gunner on B-17E #41-9244, assigned to the 5th Air Force, 43rd Bombardment Group, 64th Bombardment Squadron. The plane was nicknamed 'Honi Kuu Okole', which means 'kiss my ass' in Hawaiian.

In the early morning hours of May 21, 1943 the plane took off from Dobodura Airfield in Papua New Guinea to bomb Vunakanau Airfield near Rabaul. before arriving at the target, however, the plane was attacked by a Japanese night fighter and seriously damaged. The pilot turned the bomber southward and ordered the crew to bail out. Only three managed to escape before the plane crashed into the ocean.

He received the Silver Star, the Air Medal and the Purple Heart. Murray is also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines.