Joe
was born on February 26th, 1921, in Worcester Massachusetts,
to a typical middle class Irish-Catholic family. He
was the fourth of five children. His father died from
complications from anesthesia on the operating table
during an appendectomy when he was only 5. At 10 he
started working before and after school to help pay
the bills. A typical existing for many families in
america during this time.
Joe,
like many of this generation, joined the Army immediately
after Pearl Harbor. His enlistment record shows that
he enlisted on January 26, 1942, just one month before
his 21st birthday. Fort Devens, Massachusetts was
his starting point. On August 22, 1943 he obtained
the rank of Sergeant, per SO#234, Kessler, Field,
Mississippi. He graduated from Gunnery School, LVAAF,
Las Vegas Nevada, April 16, 1944 and he received an
Honorabe Discharged from the Army of the United States,
from 3035th AAF Base Unit, VAAF, Victorville, California
on 1 September 1944, to accept commission.
He was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and accepted appointment
on 2 September 1944. 20 days later on the 22nd of
September he was tranferred to Smoky Hill Army Air
Field, Salina, KS.
He
started his B-29 Combat Crew Training on 1 Nov 1944
- completing it on 1 Feb 1945. He and the rest of
his crew were then transfered to Herington AAF, on
9 March to pick up their B-29 then on 16 March the
crew were ordered to Overseas duty.
Joe’s
two brothers would also join the war in the Pacific.
Fred, was older and joined the army and served as
a staff sergeant. Bob, the youngest, would join the
Marines and fight in the Pacific.
Bob even had the opportunity to visit Joe on Guam.
Bob recalls one
incident: Bob was able to stay a few days when visiting
Joe on Guam. As luck would have it on the first day,
Joe’s Plane was down for repairs and would not
make that days’ run. Joe and Bob were free to
watch a movie and do some other “activities”
that night. On Bob’s last day he was invited
up to the tower to watch Joe’s plane takeoff.
The planes' engines were still giving them trouble
though and they returned to the hardstand to see about
fixing the problem. It happened a second time and
they went back again. What Bob thought was their third
try - watched in horror as a B29 caught fire, exploded
and dropped abruptly immediately after takeoff from
North Field. Bob would not find out for several hours
when planes started returning that Joe and his crew
were indeed safe. That is the moment both brothers
would never forget!
10 April 1945 - Joe earned his first Air Medal the
order reads as follows:
"For
meritorious achievement while participating in aerial
flight on 10 April 1945 as Bombardier of a B-29 aircraft
during a practice bombing mission over the Marianas
Islands. The propeller broke from one of the engines,
and, turning at a high rate of speed, struck the plane
and penetrated the fuselage almost cutting it in two.
As a result of the accident practically all flying
controls were severed and al communications lines
were cut. There was no interphone contact with the
members of the crew in the aft section and Lieutenant
Courtney volunteered to undertake the extreme hazardous
task of going through the tunnel to the rear of the
plane to verify that all men there had bailed out
as previously ordered and had parachuted safely from
the aircraft. At that time the almost severed plane
was struggling to along at low altitude, in adverse
weather and there was no assurance that it would not
go completely out of control and crash at any moment.
Disregarding his own safety, Lieutenant Courtney,
negotiated the dangerous passage through the tunnel,
found that all men were out of the rear of the rear
section of the plane and returned
through the tunnel to inform the pilot. He then parachuted
safely into the water where he was picked up by a
friendly convoy. Lieutenant Courtney’s courageous
action in placing the safety of fellow crew members
above his own reflects great credit on himself and
the Army Air Forces".
Below
is Joseph E. Courtney's Sea Squatter's card
click on each image to enlage |
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**Signatures
blurred for security** |
2nd Lt Joseph E. Courtney went on to fly 12
combat missions.
Their last missions being 7 July 1945. Per GO 159,
dated 12 Jul 1945, Joseph Courtney and his crew were
orderd to Lead Crew School for 30 days training at
Muroc AAF, CA (Now Edwards, AFB). It was during this
time he was promoted to 1st Lieutenant per SO 196,
issued by Army Air Forces, Pacific Ocean Area (Admin)
dated 15 July 1945.
With
Japan's surrender, He never returned to Guam. Per
SO 252 Courney was assigned to Reception Station #2
- Ft Dix, NJ. as was Capt Gray, 1st Lt. Edward V,
Hughes, and F/O Demchock from his crew for further
disposition - duration was 45 days.
He was discharged from Army Air Forces on 4 December
1945 from the AAF Overseas Replacement Depot, Greensboro,
NC.