World War II Honoree

Joseph M. Palatas

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Cuyahoga County, Ohio

Honored By

Joe Arsena

Relationship

Baseball Fan

MINOR LEAGUE OUTFIELDER. HE WAS IN MILITARY SERVICE AFTER THE 1942 SEASON AND TRAINED AS A BOMBARDIER WITH THE AIR FORCE. ASSIGNED TO THE 325TH BOMB SQUADRON, 92ND BOMB GROUP. BASED AT PODDINGTON, ENGLAND, FLYING BOMBING RAIDS OVER GERMANY IN A BOEING B-17 FLYING FORTRESS. ON APRIL 11, 1944, PALATAS WAS THE BOMBARDIER ON A B-17 PILOTED BY SECOND LIEUTENANT ROBERT RASMUSSEN HEADING FOR THE INDUSTRIAL CENTER OF STETTIN, GERMANY. THE BOMBER ENCOUNTERED SEVERE ANTI-AIRCRAFT FIRE OVER THE TARGET AREA AND HE WAS FORCED TO BALE OUT. SEVERELY WOUNDED, PALATAS WAS TAKEN PRISONER BY GERMAN FORCES AND TAKEN TO STALAG 11A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP IN ALTENGRABOW, GERMANY, WHERE HE DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS THE SAME DAY. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.