Many thanks to Stephen LaBrunda for all the research he did trying to find out what we could about Uncle Joe. He found the picture above in which I think Uncle Joe is on the left. He also found the pictures below and says: "After reading all the mission and crew reports, I think I understand where Uncle Joe's B-24 crashed. The bombing mission began from their base in Grottaglie, Italy which is in the boot area of Italy, the bomb target was Prato, Italy which is north of Rome and their plane was last seen over the Tyrrenian Sea, west of Rome, Italy. They left the formation and tried to fly back to base by crossing over land near Rome but crashed in the Adriatic Sea near Ancona, Italy, on the east coast of Italy."
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Uncle Joe's service number was 32466559, he was a Staff Sgt. and appears to have been killed on January 15, 1944 (41-28594) FOD. He was a member of Crew 9-1G-B of the 449th Bomb Group (H), 15th Air Force, 47th Wing, and flew in a B-24.
These are some links reached by Joann's brother Rod, thanks Rod. Some reference Joe, others are general 449th info. It's not a lot but it's a start.
About the 449th in WWII
Theater of Operations
Aircraft
Mission List
Presidential Unit Citation
About the B-24
Original Cadre
Casualty List
Diaries and Journals
Lt. Turner War Diary
200th Mission Phamplet
GAB Newsletters
Ploesti Missions
The "Big Week"
Views of Grottaglie Field
The 449th Association
2nd Generation
Reunions
Resources National Archives
716th War Diary
National WWII Memorial
15th Air Force
B-24 Best
Army Air Forces Forum
Army Air Corps Library and Museum
The Saga of Sunshine
449th Bomb Group Association PX
Links
How to contact the 449th
I think this is a picture of Uncle Joe's plane (I'm not sure if he is in the picture)
Link to a book Janet found with some information about Uncle Joe
