Radio Operator · 328th Squadron · Of Lyndhurst, NJ.
T/Sgt. Joseph F. Bradley served as radio operator aboard B-24J 42-99949, 328th Bombardment Squadron, 93rd Bomb Group.
On 21 September 1944, after the mid-air collision, Bradley observed a large hole in the nose section. He used that opening to escape the stricken aircraft and landed approximately 100 yards from the wreckage with only a minor scratch on the forehead. He returned to duty.
Entered the service on Jan. 13, 1943. Assigned to basic training at Fort Dix, NJ and Miami, FL. Attended Radio School in Chicago and Gunnery School in Tyndall Field, FL. Met crew in Chatham Field, GA. From there to the 93rd Bomb Group, 328th Sqdn. in Hardwick, England.
Sept. 21, 1944, while flying as radio operator on the 10th mission to Coblenz, Germany, their B-24, The Naughty Nan, was involved in a mid-air collision with another B-24 from the 330th Bomb Sqdn. near the little town of Inglemunster, Belgium. Four from their plane parachuted to safety: E.E. Johnson, pilot (deceased 1983); S. Mikolajczyk, co-pilot; C.D. Johnson, flight engineer; and Bradley. No one else survived from either plane.
Returned to England where, after a couple of months, he was sent to Radar School near London. Flew 20 more missions as radar operator and upon completion of the 30th mission, returned to the U.S. in April 1945 and was discharged in September 1945 at Greensboro, NC.
In 1972 he and his wife went back to Belgium to thank the people of Inglemunster for all the help given to them in 1944. Retired in 1984 to Brick, NJ near a lovely shore. After 40 years met the survivors of the Naughty Nan. Meets with them and their wives annually at conventions and considers them family.
Crew members remembered: Lt. A. Kibler, NY; Sgt. M. Conaway, DE; Sgt. O. Bregman, MA; Sgt. Lee Grafe, ID; and from the 330th Bomb Sqdn. crew: Lt. C. Mullin, MN; Lt. E. Morgan, IN; Lt. M. Guisti, CA; Sgt. J. Picard, engineer; Sgt. D. Strait, gunner; Sgt. L. Miller, gunner; C.J. Johns, gunner; and M.H. Unnderdahl, radio operator. All died on Sept. 21, 1944, but they will never be forgotten.
Radio man on Naughty Nan and one of four survivors of the 21 September 1944 collision over Inglemunster, Belgium. He wrote this 1991 letter from Brick, New Jersey.
The missions below are those we have been able to document for this airman, drawn from flight logs, mission records, and archival sources. It is not necessarily a complete account of every mission flown; gaps may reflect missing documentation, transferred assignments, or records lost to time.
Born on March 7, 1922 in Lyndhurst, NJ.
Served as teacher and administrator for 31 years in Rockaway Township, NJ. In 1972 returned to Belgium to thank the people of Inglemunster for their help in 1944. Retired in 1984 to Brick, NJ. After 40 years met the surviving crew of the Naughty Nan; meets with them annually and considers them family.
Articles, columns, and letters naming this airman in the 2nd Air Division Association journals and the group’s own newsletters. The summaries below are ours; the pieces themselves belong to the writers and publications that produced them.
Naughty Nan collided over Ingelmunster, Belgium, on 21 September 1944. Four men lived: two Johnsons (unrelated), Mikolajczyk, and Bradley.
Original documents behind what this page says about this airman — reports, records, and histories the archive holds and is free to reproduce. Check the sources for yourself.