Veterans' Memorial Project

Joe Bertis Bonner

Fairfield, IL

World War II

College: Commerce & Business Administration

Graduation Year: Attended 1943

Service Branch: Air Force

Rank: Tech Sergeant

Date of Birth: 05/24/1923

Date of Death: 07/07/1944

Sgt. Bonner served with the 8th Air Force, 453rd Bomb Group, 732nd Squadron. He was an engineer on a heavy bomber, a Consolidated B-24H Liberator. It was shot down on a mission over Germany; 2 members of the 10-man crew survived and were taken Prisoner of War; the rest died in the plane crash. Bonner’s plane was nicknamed “Dumbo, the Pistol Packin’ Pachyderm.”

– information taken from and University records

Submit additional information or comments

Your Name
Email
Your relationship to veteran
Veteran's home city
State
Years attended U of I
Graduation year
College
Date of birth
Date of death
Branch of Service
Rank
Fraternities, clubs or other organizations affiliated with
Additional comments or information
Email
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.