World War II Honoree

Joseph F. Gill

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

New York, New York

Honored By

Sharon Livingston

Relationship

Sister-in-law

SERVED AS A LIEUTENANT IN THE U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS, 8TH AIR FORCE IN THE 445TH SQUADRON (COMMANDED BY JAMES STEWARD, ACTOR JIMMY STEWART.) NAVIGATOR OF A B-24, BASED OUT OF ENGLAND. HE WAS SHOT DOWN ON DECEMBER 22, 1943 OVER HOLLAND (SEVEN OF THE TEN CREW MEMBERS WERE KILLED IN THE CRASH). HE WAS UNCONSCIOUS FOR 2 WEEKS IN A HOSPITAL IN LEEUWARDEN, HOLLAND AS A POW; HE HAD MULTIPLE FRACTURES INCLUDING A SKULL FRACTURE. HE WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE OVER MASSFELD HOSPITAL FOR PRISONERS AND LATER SENT TO THE GERMAN PRISON CAMP, STALAG LUFT 1 WHERE HE SPENT 22 MONTHS UNTIL LIBERATION.