World War II Honoree
World War II Veteran
Joseph E. Cunningham
Branch of Service
U.S. Navy
Hometown
Glen Cove, New York
Honored By
Joseph E. Cunningham
Enlisted in the U.S. Navy August 22, 1942. Completed boot training at U.S. Naval Training Center (NTC) Newport, Rhode Island. Honorably Discharged December 17, 1945 at Lido Beach, New York. Arrived at Naval Air Station (NAS) in Argentia, Newfoundland aboard the USS Chateau Thierry AP-31 on October 12, 1942. Assigned to the 7th Fleet Air Wing Radio Shop 1942-1943. Reassigned to Naval Air Station (NAS) in Dunkeswell, England 1943-1944. Requested approval to volunteer to fly as a relief radioman with one of the combat air crews on combat air missions and to train for a permanent position with a combat air crew. Request was approved by group commander James R. Reedy of VPB-110 a U.S. Navy B-24 Liberator bomber squadron. First combat mission VPB-110 was on a B-24 Liberator Bomber February 5-6, 1944. 13.6 hour mission from Dunkeswell to the Bay of Biscay along the French coast. Made radar contact with 2 German destroyers. After making two low runs under heavy fire over the destroyers the bomb load was dropped on the two ships. Sank one destroyer and damaged the second. Came very close to being shot down.