World War II Honoree

Joseph A. Musselwhite

Branch of Service

U.S. Navy

Hometown

Silver Spring, Maryland

Honored By

Mr. Joseph A. Musselwhite

Relationship

Self

Answered the call of my country in April 1944, at age 31, I was trained and assigned to duty at Air Force Pacific Fleet, Naval Air Base, Palawan, Philippines. Served in the Fire and Crash Department as Rescue Crewman. Responsibilities: Extinguished fires on incoming fighter planes and bombers shot and ablaze by enemy aircraft, rescued crews, worked around the clock, saved the lives of wounded Pilots and crew members returning to base from combat. In this line of duty emergency situations occurred frequently. My WWII album, an account of my experiences in the Pacific Theater of War, includes snapshot pictures taken at the scenes of planes which crashed landed, some on fire, showing crash crew at work extinguishing the fires with high pressure hoses. Received commendatory letter for outstanding performance of duty. Letters in my album are from Fire Department, Fire and Crash Crew Officer, Office of Commanding General, Secretary of Navy.