Joseph Ferdinand Edward Damiani was born on October 24, 1921, in Donora, Washington County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Luigi and Tilda (Constantini) Damiani. He enlisted in the service on March 3, 1943. He served in the 785th Bomb Squadron, 466th Bomb Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Pilot of B-24H #41-28746, nicknamed ''Jamaica?',' during World War II.

On September 25, 1944, Jamaica?was flown by 2nd Lt. Joseph F. E. Damiani on a fuel-hauling mission from RAF Attlebridge to France. These missions, sometimes known as “Truckin’” missions, used B-24s to transport gasoline to support the rapidly advancing Allied armies. Damiani and his crew delivered their fuel load to A-64 St. Dizier/Robinson Airfield in the Haute-Marne department of France for General George S. Patton’s Third Army. After completing the delivery, Jamaica? departed St. Dizier at approximately 11:00 a.m. for the return flight to England.

During the return flight, Jamaica? reportedly circled at low altitude over a recently liberated French town as civilians celebrated below. German anti-aircraft units were still believed to be operating in the area, and one reportedly scored a direct hit on the Liberator. Flying at such a low altitude left the crew little opportunity to bail out before the aircraft crashed at N de la Plaine Bayard, Cne de St-Pol-sur-Mer, Nord, France. All six crewmen aboard were killed. Only six crewmen participated in the mission because the fuel-hauling flight was considered a non-combat transport operation. Three gunners and the bombardier who normally formed part of the crew were not aboard.

2nd Lt. Damiani was buried at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in Lemay Township, St. Louis County, Missouri, alongside fellow crew members 2nd Lt. Augustus R. Feeley, T/Sgt. Raymond M. Hennig, Sgt. Robert F. Kirkelie, and Sgt. Theodore B. Lipnicki.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, americanarchive.iwm.org.uk, francecrashes39-45.net