Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Lackawanna, New York
Staff Sergeant JOSEPH R. BIDNEY , 702ND BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON, 445TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (HEAVY). KILLED IN ACTION ON FEBRUARY 24, 1944 ON A MISSION TO BOMB A GERMAN AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY PLANT IN GOTHA, GERMANY. WAS A RIGHT WAIST GUNNER ON B-24, TAIL NUMBER 42-7517. AWARDED AIR MEDAL AND PURPLE HEART. THE 445TH WAS AWARDED A DISTINGUISHED UNIT CITATION FOR ITS PARTICIPATION IN THE GOTHA RAID. HE IS BURIED IN NETHERLANDS AMERICAN CEMETERY, MARGRATEN, NETHERLANDS.