Adame, Joshua, FltOff

Last Known Activity
Joshua Adame was born in California on January 20, 1920. Nothing concerning his early life has been located.

He was drafted, and inducted into military service at Fort MacArthur, California on October 23, 1941. He had completed 3 years of high school, and was employed as a semi-skilled worker in the production of automobiles.

Selected for flight duty, he was trained as a pilot, then transitioned into multi-engine aircraft. He was given the rank of flight officer, and awarded wings when this training was completed. He was sent overseas to join a bomber unit in Italy. He flew at least 5 combat missions.

On April 2, 1944, he was co-pilot on an aircraft sent to bomb facilities at Steyr, Austria. The aircraft lagged behind on the bomb run,and was attacked by fighters. Observers stated they saw several fighters attack, the ship went into a flat spin, then broke into two pieces. Men were seen to tumble from the stricken aircraft, but no open parachutes were seen.

German records show that all of the crew perished. F/O Adame was recovered and buried locally, probably in Metz. After the war, his remains were retrieved and sent to his family. On August 15, 1949, he was buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California. He rests in Section O, Site 794.


www.findagrave.com
www.301bg.com/Missions_Macrs.cfm
NARA Enlistment Records
National Cemeteries Interment Control Form Records

Comments/Citation
F/O Joshua Adame was the co-pilot on B-17F  #42-3144, not named, assigned to the 32nd Bomb Squadron

Missing Air Crew Report 4197 was issued, and gives details of the loss, along with witness statements. Mission loading lists show the crew was:

1 Lt Calvin C. Miller  p
F/O Joshua Adame  c-p
2 Lt Paul F. Belot, Jr.  nav
2 Lt Raymond J. Reese  bomb
SSgt John D. Dora  eng/tt gun
SSgt Edsell N. Poe  r/o
Sgt  Everett M. Nicholson  btg
Sgt  William C. Taylor  wg
Sgt  Paul F. Pochmursky  wg
Sgt  Robert E. Tiefenbrun  tail gun

Ranks and grades as of mission date.