Joe Townley Mann, Jr. was born on September 23, 1922. was a radio operator on a C47 transport aircraft based out of Yunanyi, China. He was with the 27th Troop Carrier Squadron, 14th Air Force, known as the Flying Tigers, commanded by General Claire Chennault. On August 18, 1944 the C47 was dropping cargo along the Salween River to Chinese forces. The C47 descended to approximately 100 feet off the ground, banked left to facilitate pushing the cargo out the door, during this maneuver the plane was hit with enemy ground fire and Sgt. Joe Mann was mortally wounded. He was initially interred in the American Cemetery in Kunming, China. He is now buried in the Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery, San Antonio, Bexar County, Texas, USA.

joe was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com