World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Joseph M. Palatas
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Cuyahoga County, Ohio
Honored By
Joe Arsena
TRAINED AS A BOMBARDIER WITH THE AIR FORCE. HE WAS 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, HE WAS THE BOMBARDIER ON A B-17 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, HE WAS TAKEN PRISONER BY GERMAN FORCES AND TAKEN TO STALAG 11A PRISONER OF WAR CAMP IN ALTENGRABOW, GERMANY. HE DIED FROM HIS WOUNDS THE SAME DAY. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.