Joseph C. Rich was born on August 10, 1915 in Michigan. He resided in Cumberland County, Maine prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on March 16, 1942 in Portland, Maine. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Upholsterer and also as Single, without dependents. Joseph served as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on B-24J "Maxwell House II" #43-73245, 373rd Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #43-73245 took off on November 27, 1943 from Pandaveswar Airfield, India on a bombing mission over Insein, Myanmar (Burma). They were attacked by Japanese fighter planes which damaged their engines and the B-24 crashed approximately 150 miles northwest of Rangoon, Myanmar (Burma). At least eight parachutes were seen during bailout.

Those who were able to bail out included 2nd Lt Butterfield, Sgt Cook, S/Sgt Hart, Sgt McClung, 1st Lt Meredith, 2nd Lt Rich, 2nd Lt Stephens, and S/Sgt Temples. Before reaching the ground, five of the crew were reportedly either shot while parachuting down or killed once they hit the ground. They included Sgt Cook, S/Sgt Hart, 1st Lt Meredith, 2nd Lt Stephens, and S/Sgt Temples. 2nd Lt Butterfield, Sgt McClung, and 2nd Lt Rich were all captured and taken to the Rangoon POW camp in Myanmar (Burma). Sgt Pero, 2nd Lt Ryan, and S/Sgt Smeal where either killed while still in flight or were killed in the crash.

Joseph "Died While A POW" of dysentery at the Rangoon POW camp during the war. Joseph's remains were recovered in 1946 from a burial at the Rangoon POW camp. His remains, along with others, were being transported from Rangoon to Calcutta, India by C-47 #43-48308. However this C-47 crashed on this trip on May 17, 1946. His remains were not recovered from this crash. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Brooklawn Memorial Park, Portland, Cumberland County, Maine.

2Lt Rich was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also 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, www.abmc.gov