This Military Service Page was created/owned by
SSgt Robert Bruce McClelland, Jr.
to remember
Manske, Joseph William, Col USAF(Ret).
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Contact Info
Home Town Gowanda, New York
Last Address San Antonio, Texas
Date of Passing Apr 04, 1998
Location of Interment Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery (VA) - San Antonio, Texas
He was the flight engineer/gunner in crew #5 on the Doolittle Raid. After the raid he flew a few more missions in the CBI Theater, then got commissioned, and later was an aircraft maintenance officer in the Mediterranean Theater. He later served in the USAF until retiring as a colonel in 1973.
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Corporal Joseph W. Manske (ASN: 6914440), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Engineer/Gunner of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Corporal Manske with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.
Division: Doolittle Tokyo Raider Force Crew #5 (Plane #40-2283, target Tokyo): 95th Bomb. Sq. L-R: Lt. Eugene F. McGurl, navigator; Capt. David M. Jones, pilot; Lt. Denver V. Truelove, bombardier; Lt. Ross R. Wilder, copilot; Sgt. Joseph W. Manske, flight engineer/gunner. (U.S. Air Force photo)
WWII - European Theater of Operations/Rome-Arno Campaign (1944)
From Month/Year
January / 1944
To Month/Year
September / 1944
Description (Rome-Arno Campaign 22 January to 9 September 1944) U.S. 5th Army advanced 150 miles to the Arno River. The unsuccessful attempt to break the Gustav Line on 22 January was followed by another unsuccessful effort in March when the infantry failed to push through after bombers had endeavored to open the line at Monte Cassino. Allied air power then began a vigorous campaign against railroads, highways, and shipping that supported German forces in Italy. With supply lines strangled, the Germans could not repulse the new drive launched by the Allies in May. German resistance crumbled. By 4 June 1944 the Allies had taken Rome. But the advance ground to a halt against a new defensive line the enemy established along the Arno River.
