Joseph E. Downey

U.S. Air Force 1941–1946

 

Growing up in Natick, Mass., during the Depression, Joseph Downey was unable to get meaningful work after high school graduation. He was a laborer at Lookout Farm until he decided to enter the military. Training to be a pilot, he was stationed in California, Florida, England, Scotland and France. After a severe accident he became a Radar Observer with the 425th Night Fighter Squadron, partnering with an RAF pilot. He speaks of the horrors of trying to intercept buzz bombs over London prior to D-Day. After the war, he joined the Air Force Reserve and was sent to Korea.

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