World War II Honoree

Joseph E. Wacker

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Honored By

Larry E. Carpenter

Relationship

Aviation Historian

SERVED AS A B-24 ‘LIBERATOR’ BOMBER GUNNER, WHO WAS KILLED AUGUST 18, 1943 ALONG WITH NINE OTHER CREWMEN. HIS AIRCRAFT WAS LOST OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS DURING AN OVER-WATER NAVIGATION-TRAINING MISSION. THE BOMBER AND CREW WERE BASED OUT OF PUEBLO, COLORADO ARMY AIR BASE.