O'Donnell Joseph P.

Name:

Joseph P. O'Donnell

Rank:

Staff Sergeant

Serial Number:

32751328

Unit:

483rd Bomber Group

Date of Death:

2014-09-23

State:

New Jersey

Cemetery:

Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA

Plot:

Row:

Grave:

Decoration:

Air Medal with a bronze oak leaf cluster, Bronze Star, Purple Heart

Comments:

Joseph P. O'Donnell was born in 1925, in Riverside, Burlington County, New Jersey. He was the son of Charles O'Donnell. He was married to Dorothy E Obert O'Donnell. He served in the 815th Bomber Squadron, 483rd Bomber Group, as a Staff Sergeant and Ball Turret Gunner of B-17F 42-29856 during World War II.

On May 10, 1944, while on a mission over Wiener Neustadt, Austria, in B-17F #42-29856, the aircraft was hit by flak, losing two engines and trailing fuel; SSgt Joseph managed to bale out before it exploded, resulting in being captured and becoming prisoners of war for nine months at Stalag Luft IV in Braunau, near Krems, Austria. He survived the infamous "Death March" across Germany, an 83-day journey in which many of his comrades perished.

Joseph retired from Delaval Turbine Co. and was active in veterans' organizations. He died on September 23, 2014, and is now buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Hamilton, Mercer County, New Jersey, USA.

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