Joseph Avendano Jr
Military ROLL OF HONOURSnippet from 93rd Bomb Group unit history - see https://www.americanairmuseum.com/media/25115
Lt. Avendano took part in Operation Tidal Wave, the raid on Ploesti on 1 August 1943, flying B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-24192) and received the Silver Star for the mission.
Avendano transferred to the 482nd Bomb Group in late 1943 after completing 30 missions. He undertook pathfinder flights providing radar leads for specific missions and in preparation of the invasion of Normandy. On 23 January 1944 on a radar test flight his aircraft was seen diving nose first before crashing.
Avendano's remains could not be separately identified from Harry S Parks and Carl H Jean whom he died with. All three men are buried together at Cambridge American Cemetery.
Was of Southwest Indian extraction and is mentioned as an Apache Indian with a call sign of "Geronimo" in newspaper articles in 1942. He graduated from Class 42-D at Victorville Advanced Flying School after having accumulated 38 hours of civilian pilot training.
Connections
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Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 12038268
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32229931
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 35029645
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-792464
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 44th Bomb Group 482nd Bomb Group 68th Bomb Squadron 814th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14031023
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-24 Liberator
- Nicknames: Dogpatch Raiders
- Unit: 93rd Bomb Group 328th Bomb Squadron
Missions
- Date: 1 August 1943
- Official Description:
Places
- Site type: Cemetery
- Known as: Cambridge American Military Cemetery
- Site type: Airfield
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Enlisted |
3 October 1941 | Ft Rosecrans California | |
Other Killed in action |
23 January 1944 | ||
Born |
Pomona, California | NARA records reflect birth year | |
Buried |
Revisions
NARA files verified ASN upon entry and all decorations (SS, DFC and AM w/4 Oak Leaf Clusters). He earned the ADSM based on entry date, the ACM for continued service and the EAME Campaign Medal with at least one bronze service star. Silver Star Citation uploaded.
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Ploesti by Dugan & Stewart