Joseph Reus
Joseph Henry Reus was a retired U.S. Air Force Master Navigator with 24 years active service from WW2 - the Cold-War/ VN era.
Joe as he was know, started life in a large family (4 brothers & a sister) in northeast Baltimore. He was born during the period commonly referred to as "The Great Depression", on 2 November, 1922. Growing-Up on the 'mean-streets' of prohibition era Baltimore, he collected bottles for "bootleggers" played most sports, & helped his Handyman/ Blg Manager Father Frederick (a WW1 era Veteran who was in training when that War ended with an Armistice.) Eventually Joe applied for and was accepted into the Baltimore Polytechnic Institute. Upon graduation, Joe was hired by Martin Aircraft, before moving to apprentice machinist work at the Bartlett-Hayward Co. Following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Terr. of Hi., Joe continued work, helping to supply Allied Forces with munitions, & ordnance related equipment.
Despite beginning offered a deferment from Military Service, Joe once again applied and was accepted into the U.S. "Air Corps" (later re-named U.S. Army Ar Forces) Chosen to become a Navigator, he trained at San Marcos, Tx, followed by Combat Crew Training. Later assigned to the 445th Bomb Group (Heavy) forming near Sioux City Ia.; Within the Group, Joe was additionally assigned to the 703rd Squadron in 1943, then commanded by (Captain) James M. "Jimmy" Stewart of Hollywood. Ca.
After an overseas move in the Fall of 1943, Joes's Bomb Group began Combat-Operations against Germany's 3rd Reich, from Tibbenham, Norfolk, UK. His 1st bombing mission over Germany occurred on 30 December, 1943. After a successful mission, Joe's aircraft (a Consolidated Aircraft B-24J "Liberator") was heavily damaged by German "Flak" (anti-aircraft artillery) & numerous attacks by German Fighter Aircraft. Unable to return to base, Joe's Pilot chose to "ditch" in the English Channel. Among crew survivors all were wounded from enemy action &/ or injured in the water landing/ crash. After rescue by British Patrol Boat(s), & a less than 2-month hospitalization, Joe, after requested, returned to duty with his Squadron.
a 2nd Combat-Mission over German followed as a part of a series of U.S. strikes on German industry, called "Big Week". Flying the bombing mission on Feb. 24. 1944, Joe's crew was again shot down as they had no real long-range Fighter support. After all crew-members successfully "bailed-out" of the burning Bomber, all (except the Tail Gunner who died after his damaged parachute failed) were made POW's in Germany.
After surviving until war's end, Joe's POW Camp (Stalag Luft 1) was liberated by a soviet soldiers from a "shock" army.
Following WW2, Joe flew again in the Korean War, as part of the newly formed Strategic Air Cmd (SAC) completing 38 (Night) Combat-Missions over N. Korea from '51-'52 flying from Japan. After the Korean War, Joe served in a number of Cold-War assignments from nuclear deterrence "Chrome Dome" missions to early VN ELINT flights. Retiring from The Air Force in May 1965, Joe continued to raise his family and serve in a small number of volunteer organizations.
This Brave, well decorated Combat-Veteran & Fine man died on 7 July, 2020, fighting his last short battle (after an exposure to the C-V.)