Technical Sergeant Joe Girz flew 57 combat missions during World War II, as a Radio Operator-Waist Gunner in B-26 Martin Marauder medium bombers. Flying out of Sardinia, Corsica, and Dijon, France, between August 1944 and May 1945, he and his crewmates flew bombing missions to hit specific targets in Italy, France, and Germany.
During this time, TSgt Girz kept a personal log of each of his missions while serving in the 17th Bombardment Group. Written in the first person, these memoirs become an interesting viewpoint to tell the story of this challenging time, by placing TSgt Girz’s personal story within the greater war effort – the air and ground operations of the Mediterranean and European conflicts.