Joseph L Egan Jr

Military ROLL OF HONOUR
Captain Joseph E. Egan, of the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Egan.' media-401276.jpg FRE 2524 Captain Joseph E. Egan, of the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Egan.' Roger Freeman Collection

IWM, Roger Freeman Collection

Object Number - FRE 2524 - Captain Joseph E. Egan, of the 63rd Fighter Squadron, 56th Fighter Group. Handwritten caption on reverse: 'Egan.'

Joe Egan was born on 24 October 1917, in New York, USA. In 1941, he joined the Army Reserve and qualified as a pilot in late 1942, with a promotion to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant.



In February 1943, Egan was posted to the 56th Fighter Group, and was assigned to the 63rd Fighter Squadron flying P-47 Thunderbolts based in Britain. He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant in May 1943.



On 19 August 1943, Egan claimed his first kill, a Focke-Wulf Fw 190, and shot down his fifth victory on 15 March 1944, to become an ace.



On 3 Feb 1944 on return from support mission to Wilhelmshaven, P47D #42-75069 ran short of gas and crash landed near Clacton on Sea, Essex. Returned to duty (RTD). Earlier on May 17, 1943, mechanical problems with P-47 41-6230.



Soon after his first tour of operations ends and he returns to the Group for his second tour, as commander of the 63rd FS on 17 July 1944.



On 19 July 1944, Captain Egan flying P-47D (25 42-26524), was shot down and killed by flak north east of Nancy, in France. He is buried at St. Avold, France.

Connections

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Units served with

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 507th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 463rd Fighter Squadron 63rd Fighter Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-2045114, T-223051
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Fighter Pilot

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Unit: 56th Fighter Group 63rd Fighter Squadron
A P-47 Thunderbolt (5F-A, serial number 42-75855, "War Weary") of the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron.
  • Aircraft Type: P-47 Thunderbolt
  • Nicknames: Tony
  • Unit: 479th Fighter Group 56th Fighter Group 434th Fighter Squadron 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron 63rd Fighter Squadron

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

New York, USA 24 October 1917

Died

19 July 1944 † On 19 July 1944, Captain Egan flying P-47D (25 42-26524), was shot down and killed by flak north east of Nancy, in France. He is buried at St. Avold, France.

Buried

Plot E Row 29 Grave 32

Revisions

Date
Contributordecwriter
Changes
Sources

NARA files verified DFC w/2 OLCs and AM w/3 OLCs.

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate records. Sources:
Ted Damick, VIII Fighter Command pilots list / 8th AF Losses, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. I by Bishop & Hey p. 126 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 6786 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

http://abmc.gov/node/536967#.WfC3YU2pWUk

Date
Contributorrafhenlow
Changes
Sources

Research different books websites

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / MACR 6786

Joseph L Egan: Gallery (4 items)