World War II Honoree

Joseph D. Hall

Branch of Service

U.S. Army Air Force

Hometown

Wilmington, Delaware

Honored By

Orville L. Kline

Rank: Staff Sergeant. Inducted into the United States Army September 16, 1942 at Camden, New Jersey. Upon his graduation from recruit training, he was designated to attend the Flight Aviation Training Program. He served as a B-17 ‘Flying-Fortress’ Bomber Ball Turret Gunner, assigned to the 401st Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group, an element of the U.S. 8th Air Force ‘Mighty Eighth’ Army Air Forces. His unit was based at the Bassingbourn Royal Air Force Station Location: Cambridgeshire, England. Tuesday, August 17, 1943 he was reported missing in action, when his bomber was shot down by German Fighters, crashing near Hergarten, Germany. His squadron was dispatched to assist in a raid on the ball bearing factory Location: Schweinfurt, Germany. In remembrance of the brave, his name is permanently inscribed in the tablets of the missing, memorialized at Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial Location: Luxembourg City, Luxembourg. Later his missing in action status ultimately, to read killed in action August 18, 1944. This American Patriot received the following decorations posthumously: Air Medal and the Purple Heart. The Air Medal was awarded to the Sergeant for meritorious achievement while participating in aerial flight, and the Purple Heart for his Heroism and ultimate sacrifice.