Joseph I. Gorrono was born on November 7, 1915, in Manhattan, New York County (Manhattan), New York. He was the son of Angel Gorrono and Martina Yribar. He was married to Mindy Schaffer Gorrono.

Joseph served in the 548th Bomb Squadron, 385th Bomb Group, as a Technical Sergeant and Top Turret Gunner on the B-17 #42-31380 during World War II. On February 8, 1944, the crew took off at 07:30 from Station 155 airfield in Great Ashfield, England, for a mission to Wiesbaden/Frankfurt, Germany. Hit by flak and out of fuel, their plane crashed near Pont-Audemer, France. Fortunately, the crew bailed out prior to the crash. Most evaded German capture (including TSgt Gorrono) and were returned to England over several months in 1944. Three members were captured by the Germans. TSgt Gorrono was one of the 152 allied airmen and soldiers who were helped and hidden in the Freteval Forest camp by the French Resistance to evade German capture.

The crew that day:
1LT Francis Pabich, Pilot, EVD, returned in June 1944
2LT Philip A Capo, Co-Pilot, EVD, returned in March 1944
2LT Edward J Carey, Navigator, EVD, returned June 1944
2LT David H Flores, Bombardier, POW
TSGT George (NMI) Solomon, Radio Operator, EVD, returned in August 1944
TSGT Joseph I Gorrono, Top Turret Gunner, EVD
SSGT James A Fulgham. Ball Turret Gunner, POW
SSGT Emmett V Bone. Left Waist Gunner, EVD, returned in August 1944
SSGT Francis W Graves, Right Waist Gunner, POW
SSGT Donald F Hollman, Tail Gunner, EVD

TSgt Gorrono died on June 11, 1996, at the age of 80, in Hood County, Texas. He is now buried in the Holly Hills Memorial Park, Granbury, Hood County, Texas.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, francecrashes39-45.net