World War II Honoree

Joseph C. Antrim

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Worthington, Ohio

Honored By

Donald P. Bolce

Relationship

Friend and Fellow Crew Member on C-47 #42-100806, 85th Troop Carrier Squadron

MAJOR JOSEPH C. ANTRIM WAS A PILOT IN THE 85TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON, 437TH TROOP CARRIER GROUP, NINTH TROOP CARRIER COMMAND IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS. HE SERVED AS THE OPERATIONS OFFICER OF THE 85TH TROOP CARRIER SQUADRON. HE FLEW SEVERAL COMBAT MISSIONS DURING THE D-DAY INVASION OF NORMANDY. SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 6, 1944, HIS AIRPLANE #42-100806 DELIVERED 101ST AIRBORNE PARATROOPERS, THROUGH HEAVY FOG AND ENEMY GROUND FIRE, TO THE DROP ZONE AT STE MERE EGLISE AND, LATER THAT DAY, TOWED A CG-4A GLIDER FILLED WITH GLIDER INFANTRYMEN FROM THE 82ND AIRBORNE TO THE LANDING ZONE, ALSO AT STE MERE EGLISE IN NORMANDY. MAJOR ANTRIM FLEW COMBAT MISSIONS DURING OPERATION DRAGOON, THE AIRBORNE INVASION OF SOUTHERN FRANCE; OPERATION MARKET GARDEN, THE AIRBORNE INVASION OF THE NETHERLANDS; THE PARACHUTE RESUPPLY AT BASTOGNE TO THE 101ST AIRBORNE DURING THE BATTLE OF THE BULGE; AND OPERATION VARSITY, THE AIRBORNE INVASION ACROSS THE RHINE RIVER INTO GERMANY AT WESEL. HE ALSO PARTICIPATED IN NUMEROUS RESUPPLY AND AIR EVACUATION MISSIONS DURING THE WAR. HE WAS AWARDED THE AIR MEDAL WITH FIVE OAK LEAF CLUSTERS, THE PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION, SEVEN BATTLE STARS, THE EUROPEAN AFRICAN MEDITERRANEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS MEDAL, THE AMERICAN CAMPAIGN MEDAL, AND THE WORLD WAR II VICTORY MEDAL.