Joseph Francis Felece was born in Onondago, New York ( One account states Syracuse) in 1918. The records of the 388th Bomb Group list his birth date as January 1, 1918, but most of the unknown dates are listed as the first of the year.

According to the NARA enlistment record, he had completed 4 years of high school, was single with no dependents, and had been employed as a retail sales manager.

He was inducted into the Army Air Corps on April 14, 1941. He qualified for the Aviation Cadet program, so entered basic and advanced pilot training. Upon completion of this training, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant, and awarded pilot wings. He was assigned to the newly-activated 388th Bomb Group at Gowan Field, Idaho for training in combat crew techniques including high-altitude formation flying, target identification, and navigational procedures.

As the leader of a replacement combat crew, he deployed with the 388th Bomb Group to Knettishall, England, arriving in July 1943. He began a series of combat missions in which not much went right. On his first mission, he had to abort because the co-pilot did not have a functioning oxygen mask. The second mission was completed.

The third mission was an abort because he could not find the assembly point after take-off. The fourth mission resulted in an abort after oil pressure was lost in #3 engine. His next mission was the one in which he met his death.

Approximately 3 to 4 minutes after bomb drop, the aircraft was struck by flak which damaged # 1 and # 2 engine. The bomber fell out of formation and began a tight spiral dive. All 10 crew members were able to bail out, but landed in the North Sea, off the coast of Denmark and Germany. The aircraft crashed into the North Sea.

His body was evidently recovered at some time as Danish records state he was taken to the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium, but later returned to the U.S. His burial site is in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Syracuse, New York.

Source of information: airforce.togetherweserved.com