My name is Kimberly, and I live in Denver. The purpose of this website is to share the story of the Joe Noyes Crew, who served with the 95th Bomb Group (H), during World War Two. I also oversee the website: Victory in the Sky.
Many years ago, as a teenager, I became obsessed with the Second World War and, specifically, the Mighty Eighth Air Force. I saw The Memphis Belle (the movie and the documentary), researched WW2 on AOL, asked Jeeves, Yahoo-ed, typed into weird chatrooms, and spent entire days at Borders Books, mastering the military history section and memorizing the stories and timelines.
Other teenagers played sports or hung out with their friends, but I spent most of my free time reading books about the Second World War. Over the years, reading all those books became a worthwhile investment since this unparalleled passion for military history has altered the course of my life ever since. It’s taken me traveling and exploring and given me more reasons to be grateful for my life.
When I was about twelve, though, I stumbled across the book B-17s Over Berlin. Within its many fascinating pages filled with relatable, sometimes heartbreaking stories, I discovered a group photograph of USAAF officers. In that photograph, by some destiny, I found number fifteen, listed as Flight Officer Joe Noyes. A Pilot Named Joe is named for him.
Joe, in particular, had a youthful face that I found engaging. He stared into the camera lens with an expression that said something along the lines of “I really don’t know what I’ve gotten myself into.” Every teenager can understand how that feels. Call it projection or my interpretation of something that can never be known. That’s basically how this started.
I am not related to anyone from the Joe Noyes Crew or a 95th Bomb Group (H) veteran. Throughout the leisure time of my youth, and with little money to spend on activities other than online research and writing, I simply felt compelled to share the stories of these men and, therefore, contribute in some way to their legacy. The internet has has provided me with the opportunity to circulate information faster, to a wider audience.
Acting as a volunteer and advocate for the families of these veterans, I have been very grateful for their support since 1997. Maybe there’s a slight chance we can still find our missing boys, too. We know where their B-17 was last spotted, and where Joe Noyes was discovered on a French beach.
Nine American heroes from the Joe Noyes Crew are still listed as missing in action today. APilotNamedJoe.com was built as a tribute to them, and to share their life stories with interested parties worldwide. You can help support by donating through PayPal. These funds will go towards my web hosting expenses and premium plugin subscriptions.
Thank you for visiting, reading, and sharing my work. I also thank you for remembering the men who served with The Mighty Eighth and for keeping their stories alive in your hearts and minds. May we never forget these ten men and their enduring sacrifice.
Never Forget 9-15-1943
| Rank | Name | Age | From | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight Officer | Joseph H. Noyes | 22 | Washington | Pilot in Command |
| Second Lieutenant | David F. Prees | 28 | Wisconsin | Co-pilot |
| Second Lieutenant | Frank A. Roth | ?? | New Jersey | Navigator |
| Second Lieutenant | Rex A. Rice | 26 | South Carolina | Bombardier |
| Technical Sergeant | Billie E. Clapper | 22 | Kansas | Top Turret Gunner |
| Technical Sergeant | Edgar A. Lajoie | 26 | Rhode Island | Radio Operator |
| Staff Sergeant | Robert H. Willis | 29 | North Carolina | Ball Turret Gunner |
| Staff Sergeant | Raymond L. Provost | 19 | Texas | Tail Gunner |
| Sergeant | Daniel J. Fabritz | 21 | Pennsylvania | Waist Gunner |
| Staff Sergeant | William L. Cochran | 28 | Texas and Florida | Waist Gunner |
