Sgt. English enlisted at Macdill Field, Florida on 28 March 1941.

On 6 December 1942, B-24D (tail number 41-24262) was one of four aircraft that were on a long range submarine reconnaissance mission over the Pacific off the Coast of Northern California. The crew was based at March Field, Riverside, California, but operating out of Hamilton Field, Novato, California. Their unit was the 38th Bomb Squadron, 30th Bomb Group.

Shortly after take off from Hamilton Field, the fully fueled and bomb-loaded aircraft experienced the loss of an engine, and found itself in deteriorating weather conditions, as well as the loss of its radio compass. The aircraft went down about 9.5 miles south east of Stewarts Point on a mountain ridge in Sonoma County, California, causing the bombs to explode and fuel to ignite.

Lt. Donald Pedrazzini, the pilot in command, and his crew of five were lost shortly after take off due to an engine loss and deteriorating weather conditions.

The crew lost:

2nd Lt. Donald Pedrazzini, Pilot (California)

1st Lt. Herbert H. Knowlton, Co-Pilot (South Dakota)

2nd Lt. Charles F. Meyer, Navigator (Pennsylvania)

T/Sgt. Joseph B. English, Crew Chief (Florida)

T/Sgt. William C. Malone, Radio Operator (Texas)

Pvt. Vern B. Smith, Assistant Radio Operator (Minnesota)

He was interred in Montverde Cemetery, Montverde, Lake County, Florida.

English, Joseph B., TSgt