Joseph R. Sarnoski | |
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| Born | (1915-01-31)January 31, 1915 |
| Died | June 16, 1943(1943-06-16) (aged 28) Bougainville, Solomon Islands |
| Place of burial | |
| Allegiance | United States |
| Branch | United States Army Air Corps/United States Army Air Forces |
| Service years | 1936–1943 |
| Rank | Second lieutenant |
| Unit | 65th Bomb Sqdn, 43rd Bomb Grp Fifth Air Force |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Medal of Honor Silver Star Air Medal Purple Heart |
Joseph Raymond Sarnoski (January 31, 1915 – June 16, 1943) was an officer of theUnited States Army Air Forces duringWorld War II, and received theMedal of Honor posthumously.
Sarnoski was part of the flight crew of Capt.Jay Zeamer Jr. onOld 666 on the day where both he and Zeamer earned theMedal of Honor.
Sarnoski was the second-oldest in a family of seventeen children belonging to a Polishcoal miner inSimpson, Pennsylvania, just north ofCarbondale. His father's health began to fail and he left the coal mines to begin farming where Joseph Sarnoski worked hard to help keep the farm operating and make ends meet. The family later moved to nearby White's Crossing, where Sarnoski graduated from high school. Though the responsibility of alternating between education and farm work left little free time, Sarnoski developed an interest inaviation.
On March 7, 1936, Sarnoski enlisted in theUnited States Army as an air cadet, entering service inBaltimore, Maryland. After basic training he was assigned to the 2nd Bomb Group atLangley Field, Virginia, with additional training atLowry Field, Colorado, where he completed the Advanced Aircraft Armorer's Course in 1939.
In 1940, he was discharged from the Regular Army to reenlist in theAir Corps in order to train as an air crewman, completing the Bombsight Maintenance Course. Sarnoski was promoted toSergeant, made an enlisted bombardier inB-17 Flying Fortress bombers, and returned to Langley as part of the 41st Reconnaissance Squadron, attached to the 2nd Bomb Group.
While stationed at Langley Sarnoski met and married his wife, Marie, and was promoted toStaff Sergeant early in 1941. In September 1941 Sarnoski was transferred toDow Field,Bangor, Maine, as a bombing instructor with the 65th Bombardment Squadron, 43rd Bomb Group, newly equipped with B-17s. With the entry of the United States into World War II, Sarnoski's group was transferred toAustralia on January 13, 1942, where in March he was promoted totechnical sergeant. Sarnoski continued to act primarily as an instructor but did fly some combat missions and earn promotion toMaster Sergeant. In November 1942, now based atPort Moresby,New Guinea, he volunteered to become part of a combat crew put together by 1st Lt.Jay Zeamer Jr.
Sarnoski was awarded theSilver Star in combat and by recommendation of his pilot received abattlefield commission tosecond lieutenant on May 24, 1943.
On June 16, 1943, Sarnoski, normally abombardier, volunteered to fly as one of the crew of B-17E, AAF Ser. No. 41-2666,Old 666 on an unescorted mission toBuka, a small island off the north coast ofBougainville, a 1200-mile round-trip mission, to photographJapanese installations and map the west coast of Bougainville as far south asEmpress Augusta Bay in preparation for Alliedlandings scheduled for early November 1943 inWorld War II. Apparently unbeknownst to Allied intelligence, the Japanese had moved about 400 fighters into the Solomon Islands on June 15.
The photo reconnaissance mission was without incident, although the B-17's crew reported observing 20 fighters taking off from Buka airfield. The bomber continued south to the mapping run and shortly before its completion, the B-17 was intercepted by fiveJapanese fighters attacking from the front. Though wounded in the attack, Sarnoski continued to fire hisnose gun, shooting down two fighters. A20-millimetercannon shell exploded in the nose compartment of the B-17, severely wounding Sarnoski and knocking him completely out of the compartment. Sarnoski dragged himself back to his station and continued to fire until he died at his position.
The B-17 eventually landed successfully in New Guinea after Sarnoski died.Jay Zeamer Jr. was also awarded the Medal of Honor, the only instance of World War II when two members of one crew were honored for separate acts of heroism in the same combat engagement.
This mission has been recreated byThe History Channel as part of Episode 12 of its seriesDogfights, "Long Odds", first telecast January 19, 2007.[1]
On January 6, 1949, two days after the first interment at the new cemetery, Sarnoski's body was returned from its burial location onNew Guinea and interred in Section A, Grave 582 of theNational Cemetery of the Pacific atHonolulu, Hawaii.[2]
Merli-Sarnoski State Park, located in Fell Township (just outside of Carbondale),Pennsylvania, was co-named for Joseph Sarnoski andGino J. Merli in 2002; both wereWorld War II Medal of Honor recipients andLackawanna County residents.
A street on the Basic Military Training side ofLackland AFB, Texas, has also been named for 2nd Lt Sarnoski.
A military parade field alongside the43d Airlift Group's headquarters onPope Field, part ofFort Bragg, North Carolina, was named in 2nd Lt Sarnoski's honor in 2008.[3] In 2012, a parking lot was built over a majority of the field.
His decorations include:
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| Army Presidential Unit Citation |
The President of the United States in the name of The Congress takes pleasure in presenting the Medal of Honor to
SARNOSKI, JOSEPH R.(Air Mission)
Rank and Organization: Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army Air Corps, 43rd Bombardment Group, Place and Date: Over Buka Area, Solomon Islands, June 16, 1943. Entered Service at: Simpson, Pa. Born. January 30, 1915, Simpson, Pa. G.O. No.: 85, December 17, 1943.
Citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action above and beyond the call of duty. On 16 June 1943, 2d Lt. Sarnoski volunteered as bombardier of a crew on an important photographic mapping mission covering the heavily defended Buka area, Solomon Islands. When the mission was nearly completed, about 20 enemy fighters intercepted. At the nose guns, 2d Lt. Sarnoski fought off the first attackers, making it possible for the pilot to finish the plotted course. When a coordinated frontal attack by the enemy extensively damaged his bomber, and seriously injured 5 of the crew, 2d Lt. Sarnoski, though wounded, continued firing and shot down 2 enemy planes. A 20-millimeter shell which burst in the nose of the bomber knocked him into the catwalk under the cockpit. With indomitable fighting spirit, he crawled back to his post and kept on firing until he collapsed on his guns. 2d Lt. Sarnoski by resolute defense of his aircraft at the price of his life, made possible the completion of a vitally important mission.
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