Joseph Manske was one of the 80 airmen who, under the leadership of Jimmy Doolittle, disembarked from the U.S.S. Hornet in the first bombing raid over Tokyo in World War II. Following the raid he returned home to attend Officer Candidate School where he was commissioned and deployed to the Mediterranean Theater of Operations as an Aircraft Maintenance Officer. He subsequently retired as a U.S. Air Force Colonel.
Sponsored by:
Joseph
W.
Manske
Home:
Gowanda
,
New York
Awards Received
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
-
Distinguished Flying Cross
Service:
United States Army Air ForcesRank:
CorporalDivision:
Doolittle Tokyo Raider ForceAction Date:
April 18, 1942
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 2, 1926, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Flying Cross to Corporal Joseph W. Manske (ASN: 6914440), United States Army Air Forces, for extraordinary achievement as Engineer/Gunner of a B-25 Bomber of the 1st Special Aviation Project (Doolittle Raider Force), while participating in a highly destructive raid on the Japanese mainland on 18 April 1942. Corporal Manske with 79 other officers and enlisted men volunteered for this mission knowing full well that the chances of survival were extremely remote, and executed his part in it with great skill and daring. This achievement reflects high credit on himself and the military service.