World War II Honoree

Joseph John Pilgrim, Jr.

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Detroit, Michigan

Honored By

Sam E. Pennartz

ENLISTED IN THE ARMY AIR CORPS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO THE CENTRAL PACIFIC THEATRES OF OPERATION, 20TH AIR FORCE, XXI BOMBER COMMAND, 313TH BOMB WING, 505TH BOMBARDMENT GROUP (VERY HEAVY), 484TH BOMB SQUADRON STATIONED AT NORTH FIELD ON TINIAN IN THE MARIANA ISLANDS. ON 10 FEBRUARY 1945, HE FLEW AS AN AERIAL GUNNER IN THE LEFT BLISTER STATION ABOARD A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS NICKNAMED 'SASSY LASSY' (TAIL #42-24867). IT WAS ONE OF 120 AIRCRAFT LAUNCHED IN A MULTI-WING GROUP FORMATION TO BOMBARD THE NAKAJIMA AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY PLANT AT OTA ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF TOKYO, JAPAN. WHILE OVER THE TARGET AREA, THE GROUP WAS ATTACKED BY A BAND OF NAKAJIMA KI-44 SINGLE-ENGINE 'TOJO' FIGHTER PLANES. HIS B-29 AIRCRAFT WAS FORCED OUT OF GROUP FORMATION AND SHOT DOWN, RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF THE AIRCREW.