Joseph T. Elie was born in 1917 in Maine. He was the son of Joseph A Elie. He resided in Kennebec County, Maine prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on December 27, 1941, in Portland, Maine. He was noted as being employed as a Salesperson and also as Single, without dependents.

Joseph served in the 848th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Staff Sergeant and Engineer on the B-17 #43-38072 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on March 21, 1945, when his airplane collided with a ME262, causing an explosion that sheared off the plane's tail. #43-38072 crashed at Plauen, Germany. As a result, all men aboard were killed, except the Tail Gunner, Sgt Craig Bennett.

SSgt Elie is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium.

Airmen who perished on B-17G (#43-38072):
Black, Frederick L ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, Kansas
Butterfield, James R ~ Sgt, Waist Gunner, Utah
Elie, Joseph T ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, Maine
Farkas, Joseph M ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, New Jersey
Kennedy, Lloyd E ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, New Jersey
Lennon, Charles C ~ Sgt, Gunner, New York
Schultz, John J 1st Lt, Pilot, Maryland
Sten, Carl E ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, Kansas

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.abmc.gov