S/Sgt Joseph J. Karaso

April 30, 1922 - April 29, 1944

WWII (left to right) Sgt John P Bonnassiolle, ball turret; S/Sgt Joseph J Karaso, radio operator; Sgt Michael A Chiodo, left waist gunner; S/Sgt Orus Baxter, engineer; 2Lt. Robert R Bishop, pilot; Sgt John J Harringer, right waist gunner; 2Lt Thomas Digman, bombardier; 2Lt Arthur W Luce, copilot; 2Lt Donald W Hess, navigator Note Joseph Karaso's handwriting on the front of the picture (photo from S/Sgt Karaso's family) From the Memorial Service Program: October 26, 2011 The Old Post Chapel Arlington Cemetery Arlington, VA World War II B-24J Crew 2nd Lt Bishop Group On the morning of 29 April 1944, the Eighth Air Force dispatched more than 600 B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators to bomb the railroad system of downtown Berlin. Eighteen B-24s of the 392nd Bomb Group participated in the bombing raid. Eight of the 392nd aircraft did not return. A B-24J, serial number 42-110105, piloted by 2n Lt Robert R. Bishop and assigned to the 578th Bomb Squadron, was among the aircraft that did not return from the mission. Accounts of the incident from immediately after the crash and through post-war investigations consistently report the deaths of all crew-members on board. German military records indicated that they removed and buried nine of the crew members, with four individuals listed by name on the basis of the recovery of their identification tags. Subsequent investigations resulted in the identification of two crew members, 2nd Lt Digman and Sgt Blong. in 2003 the US Army Mortuary Affairs Activity-Europe (USAMAA-E) to inform them that Mr. Schwartz, a German citizen, had used a backhoe to excavate a crash site in the vicinity of the village of Meitze, Germany. Mr. Schwartz reported finding mostly aircraft wreckage as well as a small amount of remains. "enough to hold in two hands" which he turned over to the local police. USAMAA-E later collected the remains and turned them over to JPAC, where they were accessioned into the JPAC Central Identification Laboratory (CIL) as CIL 2004-102. In 2005 and again in 2007 a JPAC recovery team further excavated the crash site, recovering additional remains and material evidence which linked the site conclusively to B24-J #42-110105 and its crew. Their sacrifice, and the honor with which these men lived their lives, will never be forgotten. Joseph J. Karaso 1937 Port Richmond Philadelphia, PA Joseph J. Karaso Class of 1940 Northeast High School Philadelphia, PA My father's youngest brother, S/SGT Joseph Karaso, was part of the Army's 392 Bombardment Group, 578th squadron, Aircraft number #42-110105. On April 29, 1944, while on the "Target: Berlin" mission, the aircraft was shot down as a result of a "dogfight". None of the crew on board survived. To view the report click here. The crew members: 2nd Lt Robert R Bishop Pilot Joliet, IL Sgt James T Blong Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Port Washington, WI Sgt John P Bonnassiolle Ball Turret Gunner Colma, CA Sgt Michael Chiodo A. Left Waist Gunner Cleveland, OH 2nd Lt Thomas Digman Jr Bombardier Pittsburgh, PA Sgt John J Harringer Jr Right Waist Gunner South Bend, IN 2nd Lt Donald W Hess Navigator Sioux City, IA S Sgt Joseph J Karaso Radio Operator Philadelphia, PA 2nd Lt Arthur W Luce Co-pilot Fort Bragg, CA S Sgt Ralph L McDonald Tail Gunner East Point, GA (l to r) S/Sgt Joseph J. Karaso; Sgt Michael Chiodo S/Sgt Orus Baxter; Sgt John Harringer (photo from S/Sgt Karaso's family) For many years Joseph Karaso's remains were never discovered or identified. His name is listed on the Wall of the Missing at the Margraten Cemetery in the Netherlands, six miles east of Maastricht. However, in the early 2000's his remains and those of his fellow soldiers were found. In April, 2010, because of DNA testing, his remains were positively identified. A military funeral took place on October 26 2011 in Arlington Cemetery, Washington DC, where he, 2nd Lt Donald W. Hess were laid to rest with all the honors due to them. There was a single casket that contained the remains of the 10 airmen, and an individual casket that contains only the remains of Joseph Karaso. It is because of the sacrifice of these men and all the other thousands of individuals that we are able to enjoy our freedom today. S/Sgt Joseph J. Karaso Wall of the Missing Margraten Cemetery Maastricht, Netherlands NEWS RELEASES OF CREW MEMBERS 2nd Lt Arthur W. Luce February 1, 2012 Los Altos Town Crier Closure for family members of pilot shot down during World War II Sgt John J Harringer Jr November 6, 2011 South Bend Tribune South Bend Airman Recognized At Arlington, At Long Last S/Sgt Joseph J. Karaso October 24, 2011 The Philadelphia Inquirer Remains of Philadelphia WWII B-24 crewman to be buried in Arlington Sgt James T. Blong October 22, 2011 Wisconsin State Journal Remains identify Wisconsin airman who died in WWII crash SSgt Ralph L. McDonald March 9, 2011 The Randolph Leader World War II airman returns to Randolph County Sgt Michael A. Chiodo October 20, 2010 Cleveland.com World War II B-24 gunner honored in military burial ceremony 66 years after his plane was shot down Sgt John P. Bonnassiolle August 10, 2010 New York Times Missing in World War II, Unearthed in Germany and Now Back With His Family ARLINGTON CEMETERY S/Sgt Joseph J. Karaso Arlington Cemetery Section 60, Number 9890 Arlington, VA