World War II Honoree
Killed in World War II
Joseph L. Wagner
Branch of Service
U.S. Army Air Force
Hometown
Cameron County, Texas
Honored By
A Grateful American
CORPORAL, B-24 LIBERATOR, 400TH SQUADRON (BLACK PIRATES), 90TH BOMB GROUP 'JOLLY ROGERS', 5TH AIR FORCE, SERVING IN THE PACIFIC THEATER OF OPERATIONS. MEMBER OF DONALD ALMOND CREW. ON MAY 19, 1943, HIS PLANE TOOK OFF FROM PORT MORESBY ON A RECONNAISSANCE MISSION ALONG THE EAST COAST OF NEW GUINEA. AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER A RADIO MESSAGE WAS SENT SAYING THE PLANE WAS UNDER ATTACK BY JAPANESE FIGHTERS. ONE FIGHTER RAMMED THE B-24, A FEW MINUTES LATER THE PLANE WENT DOWN NEAR KARKAR ISLAND. AWARDED THE PURPLE HEART.