Sergeant Joseph W. Manske

Joseph William Manske was the son of William Manske and Helen Ruth Manske (Danbecker). Joseph had one older sister, Esther Young Manske. othe were born and raised in Gowanda, New York. 

Joseph W. Manske graduated Gowanda High School and joined the Army Air Corps in 1939. He completed aircraft mechanics training at Canute Field. Manske was an engineer-gunner with crew number five, the fifth bomber to take off on the Raid. After hitting their targets in Japan, the crew, including Manske, bailed out over China and were recovered by friendly forces.

His later wife Phyllis Betty Boller, born on 19 March 1922 , was also born in Gowanda. They married on 20 October 1945. The couple had two children. A son and a daughter.

His wife died on 15 July 2006.

Above Japan, the first flight of three airplanes, led by lt. Hoover, covered the northern part of Tokyo; the second flight, with Joseph Manske on board covered the central part of Tokyo. The third flight, led by Captain York, covered the southern part of Tokyo. And the north central part of the Tokyo Bay area. The fourth flight, led by Captain Greening, covered the southern part of Kenegawa, the city of Yokohama and the Yokasuka Navy yard. The flight was covered over a fifty miles front in order to provide the greatest possible coverage to create the impression that there was a larger number of airplanes than were actually used, and to dilute any ground and air fire.

The fifth flight went around to the south of Tokyo and proceeded to the vicinity of Nogoya, where it broke up, one plane bombing Nogoya, one Osaka and one Kobe.

Proceeded to Tokyo where bombing from 1200 feet, the crew with Jospeh Manske made direct hits with three demolition bombs and one incendiary cluster on power stations, oil tanks, a large manufacturing plant and the congested area Southeast of the Imperial Palace. one factory bombed was a new building which covered approximately two city blocks. They then proceeded to China, bailing out near and just Southeast of Chuchow. All crew members are safe.

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