World War II Honoree

Joseph J. Balesh

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Brooklyn, New York

Honored By

Brian & Jude Kasler

Relationship

Friends of American Legion Amity Post 791

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS ON NOVEMBER 10, 1942, SERIAL NUMBER 12191064. AFTER BASIC TRAINING, HE WENT TO RADIO OPERATING AND MECHANIC TRAINING IN SIOUX FALLS, SOUTH DAKOTA, TO LAS VEGAS, NEVADA FOR GUNNERY TRAINING, AND THEN TO KEARNEY, NEBRASKA FOR CREW FORMATION. ON NOVEMBER 11, 1943, HE SAILED ON THE QUEEN MARY TO ENGLAND AND BECAME PART OF THE 353TH BOMB SQUADRON, 8TH AIR FORCE STATIONED AT GREAT YELLED, ENGLAND. ON HIS THIRD MISSION TO BORDEAUX, FRANCE ON DECEMBER 31, 1943, HIS PLANE WAS SHOT UP BY A MIG, ME-109. HE AND THE CREW BAILED OUT NEAR TOULOUSE, FRANCE. HE WAS FOUND BY THE FRENCH RESISTANCE AND HIDDEN IN SEVERAL HOMES FOR A FEW WEEKS. HE WAS TAKEN BY TRAIN TO THE PYRENEES NEAR THE SPANISH BORDER AND WAS THEN CAPTURED. HE WAS TREATED AS AN ESCAPING CIVILIAN, INTERROGATED, AND IMPRISONED IN TOULOUSE AND PARIS FRANCE. HE WAS THEN TURNED OVER AS A PRISONER OF WAR AND IN APRIL 1944, WAS RECEIVED AT STALAG XVII, THEN ONTO A CAMP AT KREMS, AND THEN TO A CAMP IN AUSTRIA WHERE HE MET OTHER MEMBERS OF HIS CREW. ON MAY 2, 1945 HE WAS CAMPED IN THE OPEN IN BAVARIA WHERE HE AND OTHER PRISONERS OF WAR WERE LIBERATED BY THE U.S. TANK CORPS. HE WAS DISCHARGED ON NOVEMBER 5, 1945.