Joseph Francis Stritch was born on August 19, 1924, in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York. He was the son of Thomas Joseph "Listen" Stritch and Carrie Stritch. He served in the 602nd Bomber Squadron, 398th Bomb Group, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator of B-17 #42-97387 nicknamed ''Maude an Maria'' during World War II.

On February 3, 1945, during a bombing mission over Berlin, the Maude an' Maria was involved in a mid-air collision with another B-17, serial number 43-38697, from the 603rd Bomb Squadron. The collision occurred approximately an hour after bombs were released, and both aircraft crashed near Lehmke, close to Gardelegen, Germany. Of the ten crew members aboard Maude an' Maria, seven were killed in action, and the remaining three survived the crash and were captured, becoming prisoners of war..

TSgt Stritch was Killed in Action and is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial, Neuville-en-Condroz, Arrondissement de Liège, Liège, Belgium. Joseph F. Stritch's name is inscribed on the Anstey Window Memorial in Panel 2 (center), on Butterfly 6, in the top left wing (section A).

Source of information: www.americanairmuseum.com, www.398th.org