2nd Lt. Joseph Sidney “Joe” Busenbark

Familial History:

Joseph Sidney was born 21 August 1917 in Pearce, Cochise County, Arizona to Andrew Jackson “Jack” and Columbia Anna “Annie” Adams. He lost his life while flying a mission over Lissendorf Germany on 23 December 1944.

His father was Andrew Jackson “Jack” Busenbark. He was born on 1 October 1875 in Presidio, Presidio County, Texas to Martha Winifred Barnett (born April 1838 in Madison, Johnson County, Missouri and died 11 October 1905 in Cochise County, Arizona) and Joseph H. Busenbark (born April 1827 in Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, Indiana and passed away on 9 September 1906 in Pearce, Cochise County, Arizona). Jack passed away on 15 April 1948 in Pearce, Cochise County, Arizona. He was interned in the Adams Cemetery, Texas Canyon Pioneer Cemetery, in Cochise County, Arizona and the Memorial # 18687743.

An article reported in the 23 April 1948 San Pedro Valley News published in Benson, Arizona, stated that Jack died suddenly in his ranch home. He had been part of a pioneer ranching family in the Willcox, Dos Cabezas, and Pearce area for over 50 years. He was laid to rest beside his wife Annie who had passed away in 1925.

Jack was the 9th child of 13 born to Martha and Joseph. There were 6 females and 7 males.

The oldest was George Redden who was born December 1858 in Madison, Johnson County, Missouri and his death information noted that he died about 1859.

The second child and first daughter was name Sarah Elizabeth. She was born on 16 April 1860 and her death was 26 May 1939 in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas.

The third child was named Madora Ann “Dora” who was born in 1864 in Madison, Johnson County, Missouri and died in 1894, in Anthony, Dona Ana County, New Mexico.

Mandy E. “Mattie” was born in about 1869 in Indiana and had a very short life as she passed away in 1880 in Pena Colorado, Presidio County, Texas.

The next child had an even shorter life span than his older sister Mattie. Walter was born in 1870 in the state of Missouri and died within one year (1871).

Ida, who followed Walter had a similar life span. She was born in 1871 in Missouri and died the next year (1872) in Missouri.

The 7th child and son William T. was born in June 1871 in either Missouri or Wisconsin and died in September 1900 in Willcox Arizona.

The 8th child born to this family was named Charles Edward “Charlie”. He was born on 19 January 1873 in Saline County, Missouri and died on 22 November 1926 in Willcox, Arizona.

Andrew Jackson “Jack” father of Joseph Sidney was the 9th child.

Robert was born in 1876 while the family still resided in Pena Colorado, Presidio County, Texas. The information concerning his death is listed as “unknown”.

Martha also had a very short life. She was born 8 January 1877 and died the following year (1878).

The second youngest was James “John” Anderson. He was born on 5 November 1879 in Pena Colorado, Presidio County, Texas and died on 8 March 1964 in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona.

Emma Frances was the last of the Busenbark children. She was born on 15 July 1881 in El Paso, El Paso County, Texas and died on 17 December 1961 in El Paso. She was married on 13 November 1901 in Willcox, Arizona to Balis Lee McKinney. He was born on 24 September 1875 in Castroville, Medina County, Texas and died on 27 September 1943 in El Paso. Their union produced five children (2 female and 3 males). The five are listed chronologically as James Clark (born 1902 in New Mexico and his death information was unknown, the Memorial # 77741682), Susan Edna (born 1901 and death unknown), Courtland Anna (born 1908 and died in 1989), Balis Burr (born 4 July 1910 in Arizona and passed away on 15 January 1980 in Dona Ana County, New Mexico, Memorial # 24679884), and Woodrow W. who was a Master Sergeant in the US Air Corps in World War II and continued in service with the US Air Force. He was born on 22 July 1912 in Arizona and died on 23 April 1956 in Maricopa County, Arizona.

On 15 February 1917, Columbia Anna “Annie” Adams Mulkey Pound entered into marriage with Jack in Cochise, Arizona. The marriage certificate lists her birthdate as 1875 which her age would have been 42 at that time. The Western States Marriage Record Index lists her age as 33 (1886) and the date of the marriage as 6 February 1917.

From 1904 through 1911, Jack was residing in Johnson, Cochise County, Arizona. During the 1920’s his ranch was located in Dos Cabezas, Cochise County, Arizona. He moved it from Willcox, Cochise County. Arizona in 1922. In 1928 he had moved north from Cochise County to Maricopa, Pinal County, Arizona. He moved from the rural to an urban dwelling in Phoenix in 1938.

Joe’s mother was named Columbia Anna “Annie” Adams Mulkey Pounds. She had been married two times before this union. She was born on 11 March 1883 in Cow House Creek, Coryell County, Texas to Laura Marthalette Gleason (born 10 June 1844 in Honor, Claiborne, Louisiana and died 5 January 1920 in Burkett, Coleman County, Texas) and Frank Adams (born 29 March 1836 in Montgomery, Montgomery County, Alabama and died 12 April 1887 in Burkett, Coleman County, Texas). She passed away on 10 August 1924 in Pearce, Cochise County. She was interned in the Adams Cemetery, Texas Canyon Pioneer Cemetery, in Cochise County, Arizona. The Memorial # is 18687731.

Her first marriage was to George Smith Mulkey on 10 February 1900 in Cochise, Arizona. He was born in October 1869 in Tennessee and passed away on 13 June 1908 in Texas Canyon, Cochise County, Arizona.

The union produced five children, 3 females and 2 males. The oldest was Genevieve Laura born on 28 February 1901 in Arizona and died on 6 November 1981 in Humboldt, California. The 1940 census stated she was living in Seattle, King County, Washington and married to Nels Hjalmar Rognerust Rogue.

Nels was born 14 June 1891 in Trondhjem, Norway and passed away on 1 March 1977 in Del Norte, California. The last official residence was listed as Quartzsite, La Paz County, Arizona.

Her second daughter was Lena Mae who was born on 23 September 1902 in Cochise, Cochise County, Arizona and passed away in December 1979 in Globe, Gila County, Arizona. She was interned into the Cochise Cemetery and the Memorial # 18064177.

On 17 July 1930, Lena entered into marriage with Sherman O. Ingle in Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona. He was born on 27 February 1904 in Covington, Miami County, Ohio and died in January 1973 in Cochise County, Arizona.

The third daughter was Bessie Louise “Bess” born on 29 February 1904 in Arizona and died on 27 March 1994 in Portland, Clackamas County, Oregon. She was interned in the Prosser Cemetery, Prosser, Benton County, Washington and the Memorial # 46734018.

Bess was joined in marriage on 30 December 1933 in Pinal County, Arizona to Oscar Alonzo Winsor. He was born on 18 August 1903 in Arizona and died on 14 September 1993 in Oregon City, Clackamas County, Oregon. He was interned into the Prosser Cemetery, Prosser, Benton County, Washington and the Memorial # 46734032.

The Winsor union produced two children, one female and one male. The eldest was named Jack Oscar (born 21 January 1935 in Florence, Pinal County, Arizona and died 24 August 2000 in Leavenworth, Chelan County, Washington) and Rita Roxana (born 1944 and passed away on 7 May 1948 in Prosser, Benton County, Washington).

The first of the two Winsor male children was George Adams. He was born on 18 June 1905 in Dragoon, Cochise County, Arizona and passed away on 1 November in Hollywood, Los Angeles County, California. He was interned in the Forest Lawn Memorial, Plot Lincoln Terrace, Lot 4201, Space 2 and the Memorial # 85919268.

George was married to Genevieve Marguerite Flindall on 9 March 1929 in Seattle, King County, Washington. She was born on 14 July 1902 in Washington and died on 8 January 1983 in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California. She was interned into the Forest Lawn Memorial Park alongside her husband George. The Memorial # 85919267.

The last male from this union was Fletcher Webster “Tex”. He was born on 10 August 1907 in Arizona and passed away on 26 May 1977 in Prosser. Benton County, Washington. He was interned into the Prosser Cemetery in Plot: E1/2 So. Grave 10, Lot 8, Block 13 and the Memorial # 50999276.

He married Bernice Andrews and the date and location were not reported. She was born on 1 October 1913 in Douglas, Cochise County, Arizona and passed away on 28 March 2010 in Richland, Benton County, Washington. She too was interned into the Prosser Cemetery and the Memorial # 67091705.

After George Mulkey’s death in 1908, Annie remarried a year later to Mr. Frederick T “Fred” Pounds on 18 June 1910 in Cochise, Arizona. Fred was born May 1880 in Alabama and died seven years after the marriage in 1917, while in Cananea, Sonora, Mexico.

The Mulkey union produced two daughters. The first was Nellie Eugenia born 15 March 1911 in Dragoon, Cochise and died on 13 July 1912 in Flagstaff, Coconino County, Arizona from Cholera. Her life was a brief one year and four months.

The second daughter was named Ann Laura. She was born 17 March 1913 in Cochise, Arizona and died on 7 July 1991 in Cochise. The Memorial # 18687643.

Ann was joined in matrimony with John Henry Bright, Jr. on 12 June 1932 in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona. He was born on 23 June 1908 in Gleeson, Cochise County, Arizona and died on 7 April 1998 in Mesa, Maricopa County, Arizona. He was interned into the Globe Cemetery, Globe, Gila County, Arizona. They had one son named John Michael born 2 January 1933 in Arizona, and died 14 October 2015 in Seguin, Guadalupe County, Texas. The internment site was listed as “unknown’ but the Memorial # was listed as 14551498.

Annie’s marriage to Jack produced three children. The first was Joseph Sidney “Joe”. The second was Stanley William “Bill”, who was born on 19 August 1918 in Gleeson, Cochise County, Arizona and passed away on 10 February 2001 in Ephrata, Grant County, Washington.

The records indicate Bill was married in about 1941 to Frances Davis. She was born on 25 March 1922 in Spokane, Spokane County, Washington and passed away on 27 April 2000 in Grant, Washington.

The youngest of Annie’s children was Andrew Jackson “Jackie” Jr. He was born on 22 September 1920 in Pearce, Cochise County, Arizona and died 10 September 1997 in Pearce. During World War II, he enlisted into the US Army Air Corps like his older brother Joe. He rose the rank of 1st Lt. during his service career.

The 9 March 1944 Tucson Daily Citizen (Tucson, Arizona) reported several hundred air cadets had graduated from the Marana, Pima County, Arizona airbase. The title of the article “Promote Class of Air Cadets at Local Field; Several Hundred Graduate in Largest Group at Marana Base” stated the 16th graduating class was the largest since the base was activated in August 1942. The graduating class also included 41 Air WAC’s of the Marana Women’s Army Corps detachment. Listed amongst the cadets was Andrew Busenbark.

Jackie married Margaret Francis “Peach” Ellis on 6 January 1948 in Graham County, Arizona after he was released from the US Army. She was born on 16 March 1921 in Willcox, Cochise County, Arizona and died 30 June 1991 in Pearce. She was interned into the Pearce Cemetery Memorial # 18342547.

Peach’s first marriage was to James Frederick “Fred” DuBois on 14 June 1939 near Willcox. He was born on 15 August 1918 in Bonita, Graham County, Arizona and died on 12 July 1979 in Safford, Graham County, Arizona. He was interned into the Bonita Cemetery, Graham County, Plot Section 1 and the Memorial # 45844123.

The DuBois marriage produced one daughter named Mary Frances DuBois Busenbark. Even though the birth date was prior to the Busenbark marriage, Andrew adopted Mary into the Busenbark family upon his marriage to Peach. Mary was born on 12 October 1943 in Pearce and her death information was “unknown”.

Military History:

Joe registered for the draft on 16 October 1940 and enlisted into the US Army Air Corps on 17 December 1941. He was originally given a service number 18044776 but following flight training the service number was changed to O-696999. He was assigned to the 396th Fighter Squadron, 368th Fighter Group.

There are two reports concerning his crash landing. The first stated he failed to return from a dive bombing mission to Trier, Germany. He had just registered his downing of a Focke-Wulf Fw-109 and the engine started missing badly. He turned the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt (42-76482) toward his home base but crash landed near Lissendorf, Vulkaneifel District, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany on 23 December 1944. According to the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, the death location was Bleckhausen, Landkries Vulkaneifel District, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany, a 21 mile difference. The cemetery was located in Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands and the Memorial # 56297293. The US Army Air Corps, on 24 December 1945 listed 2nd Lt. Joseph S. Busenbark as Missing in Action.

In the 396th Fighter Squadron website, Photo Album Page A-C, reported that Joseph S. Busenburk was shot down by an Fw-190 near Bleckhausen, Germany. The last name was misspelled but the official number for the plane (P-47D S/N 42-76482) was correct.

396th FS Photo Album Page A - C (368thfightergroup.com)

Chilbolton Airfield in Britain was the base for the 368th Fighter Group. They flew their first mission in March 1944. Later they flew several missions which was supporting the ground troops in the Cherbourg Peninsula and then later St. Lo after D-Day. On 3 September 1944, they flew seven missions in one day staffing enemy troops and transportation. For their effort, the US Army Air Corps awarded the unit a Distinguished Unit Cross. They continued the efforts during the Battle of the Bulge and until the hostilities were concluded.

Chilbolton was originally a grass airfield Relief Landing Ground for RAF Middle Wallop. In April 1942, it had been enlarged and upgraded with a tarmac-surface hard perimeter track, three blister hangars and the base was declared a full No. 10 Group satellite earmarked for the 8th Air Force bombers.

In November 1942, it was reallocated to the US Army Air Corps fighter wing. It was enlarged and upgraded during January to December 1943. The three runways were renovated with concrete. It was retrofitted from January to September 1944 for maintenance, modification, and repair of the P-47s. The 368th Fighter Group, operated from Chilbolton from March to June 1944.

2nd Lt. Joseph S. Busenbark was memorialized at Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands.

Commendations:

Within the data entered within 2 Lt. Joseph S. Busenbark’s Fold3 shell, it listed the following medals received for his service. The secondary source was the Headstone and Internment Records.

U.S., Headstone and Interment Records for U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949 - AncestryInstitution.com

U.S., World War II and Korean Conflict Veterans Interred Overseas - AncestryInstitution.com

Distinguished Flying Cross

Air Medal with 5 Oak Leaf Clusters

The American Air Museum in Britain reported that he had been awarded a Purple Heart

Thank you 2nd Lt. Busenbark for your service and your sacrifice, yow will not be forgotten.

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars Project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen her on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen’s name and read his/her story.

References:

U.S., World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 - AncestryInstitution.com

Cochise Co Az World War 2 Dead (genealogytrails.com)

Joseph S Busenbark : Second Lieutenant from Arizona, World War II Casualty (honorstates.org)

MACR # (368thfightergroup.com)

42-76482 | American Air Museum in Britain

396th FS Photo Album Page A - C (368thfightergroup.com)

368th Fighter Group | American Air Museum in Britain

Chilbolton | American Air Museum in Britain

U.S., World War II Military Personnel Missing In Action or Lost At Sea, 1941-1946 - AncestryInstitution.com