World War II Honoree

Joel Dean Punches

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Wymore, Nebraska

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY RESERVE AIR CORPS ON 17 JUNE 1942 AT DENVER, COLORADO. SERVED AS A NAVIGATOR ONBOARD A B-17F FLYING FORTRESS ASSIGNED TO THE 8TH AIR FORCE, 385TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP, 550TH BOMB SQUADRON, AT RAF GREAT ASHFIELD NEAR SUFFOLK, ENGLAND FROM 5 SEPTEMBER 1943 TO 21 FEBRUARY 1944. DURING A BOMBING RUN AT 25,000 FEET OVER HAMBURG, GERMANY HIS 'FORT' WAS HIT BY FLAK WHICH KNOCKED OUT TWO ENGINES. AFTER FALLING BACK AND OUT OF FORMATION, TWO GERMAN FIGHTERS KNOCKED OUT ANOTHER ENGINE. WITH ONE ENGINE ON FIRE AND LOSING ALTITUDE AT A 1,000 FEET PER MINUTE, HE BAILED OUT THROUGH THE BOMBAY AND CAME DOWN IN HOLLAND. WALKED ACROSS THE BORDER TO BELGIUM. TWO MONTHS AFTER THE ALLIED INVASION BEGAN, MADE CONTACT WITH THE U.S. 1ST ARMY IN LIEGE, BELGIUM. RODE IN AN ARMY TRUCK TO PARIS, WAS FLOWN BACK TO LONDON, AND THEN RETURNED TO THE UNITED STATES VIA A BOAT TO NEW YORK. HE RETURNED TO SIOUX FALLS ARMY AIR FIELD, SOUTH DAKOTA ON 28 AUGUST 1945 AND WAS DEACTIVATED.