2nd Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy
2nd Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy
Photos, biographical information, and quotes courtesy of Dan Esworthy, (grandson)
“My grandfather, Joseph W. Esworthy, served as a member of the 344th Bomb Group during WWII. We don’t have much in terms of his military record but after looking at his VA disability letter, Grandpa Joe was granted disability after sustaining injury while in this unit.”
Joseph W. Esworthy enlisted on June 28, 1943, he was just 17 years of age. He graduated from Cadet Training and AAF Advanced Aviation School on December 30, 1944 which coincided with him being appointed to 2nd Lt.
Esworthy air cadet news clipping restored by Ron Ridgway
Esworthy in fighter (perhaps for cadet training)
Discharge upon completion of training as an aviation cadet. Moved on to Navigator training.
Most navigators started out as pilots in training. If they didn’t quite make it as a pilot, they were encouraged to become navigators and bombardiers.
Esworthy completed Navigator Training on December 30, 1944
From Esworthy’s Journal- On April 7, 1945, 2nd Lt. Esworthy arrived at the 344th Bomb Group based in Cormeille, France. The group was moving to Florennes/Juzaine, Belgium and he arrived there on April 8th. He lived in tent #16 with good friend Tom Whitehead from West Virginia, Tex Teague from Corpus Christi, Texas, and Dick Paulsen from Illinois.
On April 13, 1945 he learned of the death of Roosevelt and was worried about Truman being up to the job.
On April 15, 1945 Esworthy received instruction on GEE. A special state of the art navigational device.
Esworthy Missions:
2nd Lt. Esworthy’s first mission in bomb group records was April 16, 1945. He flew with the 494th bomb squadron, his pilot was 2nd Lt. Finkle.
According to 344th Bomb Group Silver Streaks– “The Communications Center at Zerbst was bombed April 16 with excellent results. Flak was encountered and 5 Aircraft were damaged Category A.”
Formation diagram for April 16, 1945 to Communications Center at Zerbst.
2nd Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy flew in B-26 K9-A under 2nd Lt. Finkle in position 1-3-5.
April 16, 1945 load list
The mission was intended for April 16, 1945 to a Communications Center at Zerbst, Germany. The 494th squadron released bombs on target as briefed. The crew consisted of: 2nd Lt. Finkle, pilot; 2nd Lt. Harding, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Esworthy nav/bomb; S/Sgt. Summer, radio/gun; Sgt. Fabre, eng/gunner; Sgt. Goldfarb, tail gun. They took off at 8:15 am in *43-34400 100 PROOF / The Dixie Flyer 7I-L in formation position 1-3-5 and landed at 12:30 pm.
Hand drawn map of the route taken to Zerbst, Germany.
“30 planes plus 2 pff (Pathfinders) bombed primary visually. Plane 1-2-2 aborted en route. Plane 1-1-1 landed on single engine at Y-96 (Waldau Army Airfield, located 4.0 km south of Kassel in Hesse, Germany.)due to flak damage. Formation received moderate, accurate flak at Lindau and moderate accurate flak at target sustaining damage as shown.”
Bombed the target at Zerbst at from 13,000 ft. The skies were clear. Five planes received Cat. A flak damage.
April 16, 1945 Debrief of pilot Finkle
2nd Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy flew in, *43-34400 -100 PROOF / The Dixie Flyer 7I-L in formation position. The target, Zerbst, Germany was attacked from 13,300 feet at 10:44am using a load of 8 x 500lb bombs. The visibility was CAVU. At Landau they experienced very heavy and accurate flak.
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According to 344th Bomb Group Silver Streaks— “On the morning of April 17, excellent to superior
results were accomplished when the defended town of Magdeburg was bombed. No flak was encountered. That afternoon 35 Aircraft struck at the Tubingen Marshaling Yard, doing superior bombing in the briefed area. No flak was encountered.”
Formation diagram for April 17, 1945 Mission 2 to Marshaling Yard at Tubington, Germany
2nd Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy flew in B-26 K9-L under 2nd Lt. Arnberg in position 2-2-3.
April 17, 1945 Mission 2 load list
The mission was intended for April 17, 1945 to a Marshaling Yard at Tubington, Germany. The 494th squadron released bombs on target as briefed. The crew consisted of: 2nd Lt. Arnberg, pilot; 2nd Lt. Draxl, co-pilot; 2nd Lt. Esworthy nav/bomb; S/Sgt. Gillen, radio/gun; S/Sgt. Weiderhelt, eng/gunner; S/Sgt. Valois, tail gun. They took off at 5:15 pm in 42-95907 The Freddie Dees K9-L in formation position 2-3-3 and landed at 8:30 pm.
Article on namesake of this plane.
42-95907 The Freddie Dees K9-L
Hand drawn map of the route taken to Tubingen, Germany.
36 planes bombed primary target Tubingen. The first box dropped bombs from 11,400 ft at 6:52. The second box dropped bombs from 10,500 ft at 6:53. No flak was encountered. The skies were about 5/10.
April 17, 1945 Mission 2 Debrief of pilot Arnberg
2nd Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy flew in 42-95907 The Freddie Dees K9-L in formation position 2-3-3 and landed at 12:30 pm. The target, a marshaling yard in Tubingen, Germany was attacked from 10,000 feet at 6:53 pm using a load of 16 x 250lb bombs all dropped on target. The visibility was hazy but CAVU. There were variable clouds en route. No flak was reported.
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The April 20, 1945 mission was to an Ordnance Depot Straubing, Germany
Formation diagram for April 20, 1945 mission to an Ordnance Depot Straubing, Germany
2nd Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy flew in B-26 K9-P under 2nd Lt. Barney in position 1-3-4.
April 20, 1945 mission to an Ordnance Depot Straubing, Germany
The April 20, 1945 mission was to an Ordnance Depot Straubing, Germany. The 494th squadron released bombs on target as briefed. The crew consisted of: 2nd Lt. Barney, pilot; F/O Heeft, co-pilot; F/Warmbredt, bombardier; 2nd Lt. Esworthy navigator; Sgt. Taylor, radio/gun; Sgt. Zern, eng/gunner; Sgt. Bamstort, tail gun. They took off at 9:35 am in 42-95894 Georgia’s on My Mind K9-P in formation position 1-3-4 and landed at 1:40 pm.
Hand drawn map of the route taken on April 20, 1945 mission to an Ordnance Depot Straubing, Germany
36 planes bombed primary target an Ordnance Depot in Straubing. The first box dropped bombs from 10,120 ft at 12:21:30 pm. The second box dropped bombs from 8,700 ft at 12:22 pm. No flak was encountered. The skies were CAVU.
April 20, 1945 Mission April 20, 1945 mission debrief by pilot, 2nd Lt. Barney.
2nd Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy flew in -95894 Georgia’s on My Mind K9-P in formation position 1-3-4 and landed at 12:30 pm. The target, an Ordnance Depot Straubing, Germany was attacked from 10,000 feet at 12:23 pm using a load of 2 x 2000lb bombs dropped on target with excellent results. The visibility was CAVU. “There were variable clouds en route”Crossed race track and hit right on buildings.” “Landed at Y79 for gas.” No flak was reported.
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The 344th Bomb Group flew only two more missions after Esworthy’s final April 30th mission. His journal mentions a few things that help understand the thinking during this pivotal moment in history;
“There are so many rumors now about the end of the war– I wonder if they are true– On all fronts they seem to be there so that now there doesn’t seem to be anything left.”
“Every day now we hear stories from the horror camps [from] our prisoners in Germany–Boy I’m sorry I came so late for I didn’t kill too many for my own way of thinking.”
Due to his only having a handful of missions under his belt at wars end, Esworthy learned that he would not be sent back to the states and instead become part of the 344th’s occupation forces in Germany for up to two years. That didn’t mean that all would remain well…
“One of the few stories that was passed down through the family was how he was taken off his assigned plane and then watched as it crashed and exploded.”
Shortly after the war, a training mission was held that ended up in disaster. Esworthy was transferred from the plane destined to crash shortly before the mission.
On May 13, 1945 42-96048 K9-Y Lt. Esworthy as part on a three ship training flight. The aircraft flown by 1st Lt. Clyde T Whitehead was buzzing the surrounding villages and countryside at low level when the right wing struck a tree. The aircraft crashed into the ground at high speed near the town of Heizingen, Belgium, killing all the crew on board.
| All killed on a low level navigational mission. 1st Lt. Clyde T. Whitehead, Pilot (KIA, Ardennes) F/O Sammie E. Teague, Jr., Co-Pilot (KIA, Ardennes) F/O Richard W. Paulsen, Bombardier (KIA) 1st. Lt. Glenn O. Waters, Observer (KIA, Forrest Lawns, LA, CA) Sgt. Robert G. Riddell, Engineer-Gunner (KIA, Woodlawn, Elmira, NY) Sgt. Morris W. Van Triese, Radio-Gunner (KIA) Sgt. Irvin F. Van Blaroan, Aerial-Gunner (KIA) Cpl. William M. Drennon, Tail-Gunner (KIA, Ardennes) |
The first occurred May 13, 1945, when a two-ship formation flew on a low-level navigational problem. The pilot of the lead ship, 1st Lt. William W. Doming, Jr., stated he had advised 2nd Lt. Clyde T. Whitehead, pilot of the ill-fated plane, not to attempt to fly formation due to the turbulence of the air that day. Lt. Whitehead dropped back and to the right but kept in sight of the lead plane.
As they flew along, the Waist Gunner of Lt. Doming’s aircraft stated to him over the interphone that he could see Lt. Whitehead buzzing villages and surrounding terrain. During the process of buzzing, Lt. Whitehead’s right wing of the craft struck a tree, causing the airplane to swing to the right. His altitude at this time was so low, he was unable to right the plane, and the right wing struck the ground at a great speed, causing the crash. Parts of the plane were strewn over a great forward distance, carrying the pilot and the following crew members to their deaths.”
Here is how 2nd Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy told the story in his journal (the quality of the image below and informal script makes it hard to read )
(caution graphic descriptions included);
May 13-
“Low level practice mission scheduled today– I am flying with the boys in K9-Y [42-96048]– Just before takeoff I was transferred to ship K9-C as they didn’t have a bombardier or navigator in it. My route is to ? And South– hitting ? And then back to base. In K9-Y they are going to the North to Brussels and Aachen then back to base– Th weather is ? Enough so in touring formation they decide to break up the formation flying– Tom [1st Lt. Clyde T. Whitehead], never-the-less, stays on the deckand he’s really going around 300 mph so they said– Suddenly the pull up to miss a tree and the elevators catch on the tree– the plan spins into the ground– and it’s over like that– nothing left practically–“
May 16-
“The boys funeral is today. They were buried near Liege, Belgium– It was an awful sight– Tex was the only one with any amount of body left. He was burned almost beyond recognition– his legs were off above the feet but the rest of him was pretty much intact. Before they put him in the sac they pulled out a 20mm shell from his head– it was really in there and he had such an awful expression on his face- He must have known what had happened for I’ve never seen the facial expression that he had.
Tom and dick were less fortunate. Both had but stump left for legs– Dick’s head was severed from his body– Tom’s head and right shoulder were completely missing and both boys there was little left of them.
I saw parts of Dick’s maps that must have been blown away from the wreck in the explosion-
It was a very indecent burial– However, the best as could be expected. They were dumped in mattress covers and then carried to their plots in the field. From there the bodies were literally tossed.”
Sometime later came another tribulation for Lt. Joseph W. Esworthy. He wrote about the incident in his journal (the quality of the image below and informal script makes it hard to read);
Here is my best shot with the help of Alice Peterson and others from the Marauder Historical Society to type out out this journal page regarding the incident of November 2, 1945;
Thursday 1st – Remarks: “Our CQ at officers Billett not much to do – hope to write more , [Abrcurron , – Olee] today. Haven’t heard from mother in over four weeks – – Hope nothing is wrong at home – .”
Friday 2nd – “(Got shot with a 38 cal. Pistol through shoulder and rt. Leg)- Well the girls get back from Fri 2nd Berchtesgaden this evening & we have a date tonight at 8. – Got a ride to town with the girl from M. G. that Mac’s has seen the past two days & we went to Red Cross then to American Bar – after which time we started towards [Baubanarie?] For Mac & 132nd for me- Just north of the [MG] Bldg and Maximillian Strasse as we were crossing the intersection a G.I. reached in his pocket & fired 3 or 4 shots and the first shot it went thru the rt windshield & we kept right on going – I laughed at the time saying what a [hern] shot he is – He was drunk to be sure – a few seconds later it felt like someone had spilt a bucket of hot water on me & then it began to pain was on the rt shoulder & arm – I then realized I had been hit – my right foot hurt considerably also.
We headed for MPs which was about two minutes away. Pulled in there and I got out and told them I’ve been shot and to take me to 132nd. They thought I was tight (drunk) but then they saw some blood running down my pants.
Finally got me in a jeep. It pained. Hurt all the way, but I made it without passing out. Mac was really worried. They gave me 3 pints of plasma. A lot of other shots. Doc I knew and also the nurse.
He said I was lucky. And I never realized how lucky. It entered the right back near shoulder and came out right side near armpit and right breast. The other one was stopped by my shoe and merely creased my right foot in the rear.
Doc said it was either a .38 caliber or larger. I was out pretty much for two days and it pained me constantly. So he removed the stitches and drained some more blood off me, after which time I have been OK – no pain – an occasional hurting. Right arm is unusable, but not fully. He said it would be OK”
In 1947 Esworthy was awarded 20% disability due to his injuries.
Not all was gloom and doom. On July 16, 1946, Esworthy was promoted to 1st Lieutenant and joined the Army Reserves. He was assigned to 87 A Weis Rd, Albany NY on Oct. 19, 1951.
Notice of Esworthy’s promotion to 1st Lieutenant came after he returned to the states.
Honorable Discharge as of July 15, 1946
“If you look up Joseph W Esworthy, you will see that after the war he was a lawyer, mayor, and judge. His army trunk is filled entirely with newspaper clippings from this time period about our family.”
Among his prized memorabilia, Lt. Esworthy created a pair of plaques upon which he affixed various pins from his wartime service and the various service organizations he belonged to, such as the Knights of Columbus.
He remained active in his community, supporting veterans and those disabled.
Obituary- Joseph W. Esworthy, 77, of Binghamton,
died Tuesday afternoon, July 9, 2002 at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital. He was predeceased by his parents, Joseph W. and Elizabeth Shea Esworthy; and a brother, Francis V. Esworthy. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Marilyn BeGasse Esworthy; his children, Cheryl and David White, Joseph W., Jr. and
Charlotte Wage Esworthy, Michael Esworthy, Maureen and Charles Warren, John Esworthy, Kevin Esworthy, Thomas and Winifred Guiton Esworthy, Mary Kathleen and Michael Stiles; 13 grandchildren; and 3 great-grandchildren; his sisters, Mary Elizabeth Giblin, Ann Constance Esworthy; a brother, John L. Esworthy; sisters-in-law, Helena Esworthy, Janet Van Wormer; several nieces and nephews. He was a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Binghamton, Lector, Eucharistic Minister and past president of the Holy Name Society. Joe graduated from Union University Albany Law School in 1952. He practiced law with Shaw, Esworthy, O’Brien and Crowley Law office. He was a former Binghamton City Court Judge, a former Mayor of the City of Binghamton from 1966 to 1969 and Broome County Court Judge. He served on numerous community organizations, including a member of and past Grand Knight of Knights of Columbus Peter T. Campon Council #206, and member of the 4th Degree Assembly, member of Sertoma Breakfast Club, member of American, N.Y.S., and Broome County Bar Associations, past president of Binghamton Boy’s Club, an Army Air Force veteran of WWII, a member of the American Legion Post 80, D.A.V. Chapter, VFW Post 478. Joe enjoyed golfing with his wife and family and enjoyed jazz. A Funeral Mass will be offered at St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Binghamton, Saturday at 11 a.m. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Johnson City, at a later time.
Lt. Joseph Esworthy Bombardier Bag
A small remembrance is dedicated here to those people who shaped his call to service and helped enable this project.
His mother, Elizabeth “Bess” Esworthy (restored by Sara Smile)
His father, Joseph Esworthy Sr. (restored by By Diane Menke)
In a long line of family service, Esworthy Sr. served in WWI (right)
Esworthy Sr (top middle)
Esworthy Sr. (second to right)
A special tribute to his son, Kevin P. Esworthy. Loved by many and remembered by all who knew him. For whom this page would not be possible if not for his keeping and passing these memories to his nephew.
Joseph W. Esworthy photo restored by Ray Norman
