Joseph W Arant was born on November 10, 1923 in McCracken County, Kentucky. His parents were James and Nettie Dunagan Arant. Joseph was one of the three sons of his family. They had a sister named Mamie. He attended 3 years of high school and entered the Service from Fort Benjamin Harrison, Indiana on October 22, 1942.

He had enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces and served during World War II. Arant had the rank of Staff Sergeant. Service number assignment was 15333681. Attached to 92nd Bomber Group, Heavy, 326th Bomber Squadron as a Tail Gunner.

S/Sgt. Joseph Arant lost his life on March 23, 1944. He was the Tail Gunner on FAME'S FAVOURED FEW. B-17G #42-31888. He served in 92nd Bomber Group, 326 Bomb Squadron. The aircraft was struck by 20mm shells, the aircraft went out of control, exploded into pieces and crashed East of Hamm, Germany on a mission to Munster and Hamm, Germany.

Joseph W Arant is buried at Plot D Row 12 Grave 9, Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands. This is an American Battle Monuments Commission location.

COMMENDATIONS

★ Air Medal

★ Purple Heart

8 Killed in Action FAME'S FAVOURED FEW. B-17G #42-31888 March 23, 1944

click on the name for the Find A Grave Memorial, click on service# for Fold3 story

Pilot: Lt. Edward R. Larrivee, NH - O-677787

Co-pilot: Lt Jack Wilson, TX - O-684445

Navigator: Lt. Alvin J. Lageson, MN - 17062636

Flight engineer/top turret gunner: T/Sgt. Joseph Le Blanc, LA - 38260886

Ball turret gunner: Sgt. Maynard Dunker, IL - 16127674

Waist gunner: Sgt. James Helms, TX - 38365169

Waist gunner: Sgt. Ferman Wilson, IN - 35575159

Tail gunner: S/Sgt. Joseph W. Arant KY - 15333681

2 Prisoner of War

Bombadier: S/Sgt. Frank Adams

Radio Operator: S/Sgt. Jack Bogel

*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 here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smartphone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

If you noticed anything missing in this profile, you may contact the author. Click on the author’s name located at the bottom of the story page next to the words “added by.”.

Thank you for your supreme sacrifice in service to your country

Sources:

https://www.ancestry.com/ - 1920, 1930, 1940 census, draft card

https://www.findagrave.com/* *