Joseph Matthew Farkas was born on February 12, 1918, in Roebling, New Jersey. He was the son of Kasper Farkas and Theresa Kercsmar Farkas.

Joseph resided in Mercer County, New Jersey prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on May 20, 1942, at Fort Dix, New Jersey. He was noted as being employed as an Accountant and/or auditor and also as Single, without dependents.

Joseph served in the 848th Bomber Squadron, 490th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on the B-17 #43-38072 during World War II. He was Killed in Action on March 21, 1945, when his airplane collided with a ME262, causing an explosion that sheared off the plane's tail. #43-38072 crashed at Plauen, Germany. As a result, all men aboard were killed, except the Tail Gunner, Sgt Craig Bennett.

2Lt Farkas is now buried in the Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupré, Belgium.

Airmen who perished on B-17G (#43-38072):
Black, Frederick L ~ 2nd Lt, Co-Pilot, Kansas
Butterfield, James R ~ Sgt, Waist Gunner, Utah
Elie, Joseph T ~ S/Sgt, Engineer, Maine
Farkas, Joseph M ~ 2nd Lt, Navigator, New Jersey
Kennedy, Lloyd E ~ Sgt, Radio Operator, New Jersey
Lennon, Charles C ~ Sgt, Gunner, New York
Schultz, John J 1st Lt, Pilot, Maryland
Sten, Carl E ~ Sgt, Ball Turret Gunner, Kansas

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.americanairmuseum.com, www.abmc.gov