Sgt. Joseph Francis Senec, Jr. was a Turret Gunner with the 310th Bombardment Group; 381st Bombardment Squadron; Stationed in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations, (MTO)

His Hometown was Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey.

381st BS War Diary

08 February 1944

From a mission to Porto San Stefano, Italy on 08 February 1944, the lead aircraft, B-25H; Serial Number 42-4223-H failed to return. (MACR: 2637) It carried the following crew:

Flight Commander: Graves, Davis D., Brig General; O-17466; San Antonio, TX

Pilot: Dorman, Edgar (NMI); 1Lt., O0735543; Philadelphia, PA

Navigator: Callery, William A., 2Lt., O-0798743; Forrest Hills, Queens Co., NY

Radio Op: Pinsonault, Gus, Jr., TSgt., 39606477; Saint Ignatius, Lake County, MT

Turret Gunner: Senec, Joseph F., Sgt., 12125000; Bayonne, Hudson Co., NJ

Tail Gunner: Mohr, Ralph C., S/Sgt., 15098314; Tiffin, Seneca Co., OH

Eyewitness Statement of 2Lt. Douglas G. Foote:

As Lt. Dorman's A/C closed to within 300 yards of the vessel and about 150 feet off the deck, a fire broke out in the upper turret; apparently from a direct hit. By the time he passed over the vessel at a height of about 100 feet, the fire had spread to the bomb bay. The distressed A/C chandeled to its left, leveling out at 300 feet. By this time the fire had broken out in both engines. From the manner in which fire spread, at least two pilots guessed that it was the hydraulic system that had ignited. As the A/C leveled out, the rear hatch was salvoed, and the plane made a semi-controlled landing. The distressed plane's wingman said that it hit the water in a level attitude at an estimated speed of 205 miles per hour. The engine nacelles and pilots compartment appeared to collapse. Upon impact the dinghy was thrown out and inflated. It was seen floating in an inverted position. When last seen the A/C appeared covered with water, but its outlines were clearly visible. There was no sign of the crew. The A/C crash landed at 42 deg 28'N, 11 deg 10'E, approximately 30 seconds after it was noticed to be in trouble.

381st BS War Diary

08 February 1944

From today's mission to Porto San Stefano, Italy, 1st Lt. Edgar (NMI) Dorman's aircraft failed to return. With him flew the Commanding General of the 63rd Fighter Wing, as Flight Commander. This was Lt. Dorman's second mission with the 381st Squadron. He was an experienced combat pilot, having flown 20 missions with the 321st Bomb Group. For Lt. Callery, Navigator on this aircraft, it was the second time in combat. T/Sgt. Pinosault, Radio Operator, had flown 23 missions with the 321st Group, and two with the 381st. Sgt. Senec was on his eighth mission, five of which were flown with the 321st. S/Sgt Mohr, Tail Gunner, though new to combat, was one of the Squadron's oldest members. He flew to England with the original Flight Echelon, as an aerial mechanic in Lt. Robert W. Martin's crew, and served on the line as a mechanic, until going on combat. His first mission wa on 06 February (1944). This was his second mission.

Two flights of fighters and a sea plane were dispatched, but were unable to find any trace of the plane or its crew when they arrived at the scene of the crash two hours later. This is the thirteenth Squadron plane missing in action. Further details may be found in the Casualty Section. It is coincidental that the Squadron lost its first aircraft one year ago this day. They were ships piloted by Walter P. Crump and 1st Lt. Robert A. Cox on Squadron Mission 23, over Gabes Airdrome, Tunisia.

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Joseph F Senec Jr