Joseph Edward Van Dyke
Military
David Bridgers Crew
466th BG - 787th BS
B-24J-155-CO #44-40253 "Hard Luck" Code: 6L-N
Standing Left to Right: Herb Leopold (B), Dewey A. Whisenant (N), David I. Bridgers (P), Charles Walker (CP), Joe Iurlano (G)
Kneeling Left to Right: Andrew Van Slot (FE), Jack Starlin (WG), Richard Garlich (R/O), James Steel (TG), Joseph Van Dyke (WG), 466th Bomb Group collection
466th BG Historian
Object Number - UPL 7271 - Crew #765 David Bridgers Crew 466th BG - 787th BS B-24J-155-CO #44-40253 "Hard Luck" Code: 6L-N Standing Left to Right: Herb Leopold (B),...
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant (3rd Grade)
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 36459335
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 784th Bomb Squadron 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-834069
- Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Co-Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 466th Bomb Group 787th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: O-722406
- Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel
- Role/Job: Navigator
Aircraft
Missions
Places
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Yoakum, TX 77995, USA | 19 September 1924 | |
|
Based |
Attlebridge | 6 October 1944 - 10 March 1945 | 466th BG Tour |
|
Died |
Victoria, TX, USA | 21 October 2012 | VICTORIA - Joseph Edward Van Dyke, 88, of Victoria, passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2012. He was born in Yoakum, Texas, on September 19, 1924, to Albert Henry and Ann Eliza Vick Van Dyke. He graduated from Yoakum High School in 1942 and attended Texas A&I University prior to entering the military service during World War II. He served in the Army Air Corps as an aerial gunner on a B-24 bomber flying out of England. He attained the rank of staff sergeant as an engineer gunner and flew 32 missions over Germany including missions in support of ground troops during the Battle of the Buldge. He was honorably discharged from The Air Corps on July 2, 1945. In April, 1946, he met the love of his life, Pearl Hazel Willman and they were married on November 3, 1946. After living in Amarillo and San Antonio, they moved to Victoria, Texas where he was employed as a salesman for Groce-Wearden Company. In 1957 he entered the real estate business as a salesman, and later became a Certified Real Estate Appraiser. He and Hazel opened their own appraisal business in 1967, which they operated until their retirement in 2001. Joe had many interests including leather tooling, woodworking and extensive travel through the United States, Mexico, Caribbean, and Europe. He loved his family, his Country, friends, life, and laughter. As a member of the North Side Rotary Club for approximately 40 years, he served as president and had more than 32 years of perfect attendance, and was awarded the designation of Paul Harris Fellow. |
|
Buried |
Victoria, TX, USA | 25 October 2012 | Memory Gardens Victoria Victoria County Texas, USA |
Revisions
Contributorgeneral ira snapsorter
Changes
Sources
David Bridgers' entry in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom & Brassfield, p 56
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources
Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia / Unit roster in the book ATTLEBRIDGE ARSENAL by Wassom & Brassfield, page 331