Untitled-1

THE FLAGLER TRIBUNE
Bunnell, Florida
Thursday, March 8, 1945

The Tribune has just learned that Lt. Joy M. Deen, reported by the War Department as missing in action July 19, 1944, was killed in action on that date.

He was the grandson of J. E. Deen and the grandson of Mrs. C. E. Sisco of Bunnell. Mrs. Sisco gave the information to The Tribune. Lt. Deen's wife resides in Miami.

His wife, Martha, received from Maj. Gen. J. A. Ulio in Washington that "The report received from the German government through the International Red Cross contained only the fact that he died on July 19, 1944. Since it gives the date of his death as the same date he was previously reported missing in action, it has been officially recorded on the records of the War Department that he was killed in action on that date ............."

Mrs. Deen also received a letter from General H. H. Arnold wherein Gen. Arnold said, in part: "As an officer he displayed outstanding diligence and resourcefulness, and the conscientious manner in which he performed assignments earned the respect and admiration of all who were associated with him."

In addition she also received a letter of condolence from President Roosevelt.

Lt. Deen was a graduate of Bunnell High School and Florida Southern College, and was teaching in the Dade County public school system prior to entering the army. He received his wings at Moody Field, Valdosta, Ga. in 1942 and was an instructor at the army air field at Avon Park several months before going overseas in November 1943.

In a letter to Mrs. Deen, Secretary of War, Henry L. Simpson said "You will shortly receive the Purple Heart Medal, which has been posthumously awarded by directions of the President to your husband .......... it is sent as a tangible expression of the Country's gratitude for his gallantry and devotion .......... "

The official notification of Lt. Deen's, death stated that he was lost "over France." He was a bomber pilot and it is believed he was flying a B-26 at the time of his death.

NOTE: Lt. Deen was born in Orange Hammock, Flagler County, Florida on 23 Feb 1918. He was the son of James Emmett Deen and Ethlyn Winifred "Ethel" Sisco. On 26 Apr 1942 in Collier County, Florida, he was married to Martha J. Schultz (1920-1998).

Joy's bomber unit's target was a railway bridge at Nantes, crossing the river Loire, which was attacked on 19 Jul 1944 and good results were reported by returning crews, some telling of direct hits on the bridge and many near misses.

Moderate to intense accurate HFF was encountered in the target area and two ships were lost.

The plane piloted by 1st Lt "Joy" M Deen of South Miami, Fla was hit by flak in the target area and smoke was seen coming from the right engine. The aircraft went out of control, turned over on its back and was lost in the clouds. Two chutes were seen to open.

Other members of the crew were: 1st Lt Joseph P Gonat, co-pilot, New York City; 2nd Lt Carl H Sinn, navigator-bombardier, Philadelphia, Pa; S/Sgt James E Fox, engineer-gunner, Hamilton, Ohio; T/Sgt John F Williams, radio-gunner, Salem, Ore; and S/Sgt Charles I Abady, tail gunner, Brooklyn, N.Y."

The only crew member to survive was James Fox who was taken prisoner and housed in Stalag 4B Muhlberg Sachsen 51-13

The French Memorial to Lt Joy Monroe Deen may be found on line at:

https://www.database-memoire.eu/prive/en-us/st-james-all-soldiers/104-st-james-d-us/306-deen-joy-m-450-bs-322-bg
Lt. Deen's military medals are on display at the Flagler County Historical Society Museum in Bunnell.

The Tribune has just learned that Lt. Joy M. Deen, reported by the War Department as missing in action July 19, 1944, was killed in action on that date.

He was the grandson of J. E. Deen and the grandson of Mrs. C. E. Sisco of Bunnell. Mrs. Sisco gave the information to The Tribune. Lt. Deen's wife resides in Miami.

His wife, Martha, received from Maj. Gen. J. A. Ulio in Washington that "The report received from the German government through the International Red Cross contained only the fact that he died on July 19, 1944. Since it gives the date of his death as the same date he was previously reported missing in action, it has been officially recorded on the records of the War Department that he was killed in action on that date ............."

Mrs. Deen also received a letter from General H. H. Arnold wherein Gen. Arnold said, in part: "As an officer he displayed outstanding diligence and resourcefulness, and the conscientious manner in which he performed assignments earned the respect and admiration of all who were associated with him."

In addition she also received a letter of condolence from President Roosevelt.

Lt. Deen was a graduate of Bunnell High School and Florida Southern College, and was teaching in the Dade County public school system prior to entering the army. He received his wings at Moody Field, Valdosta, Ga. in 1942 and was an instructor at the army air field at Avon Park several months before going overseas in November 1943.

In a letter to Mrs. Deen, Secretary of War, Henry L. Simpson said "You will shortly receive the Purple Heart Medal, which has been posthumously awarded by directions of the President to your husband .......... it is sent as a tangible expression of the Country's gratitude for his gallantry and devotion .......... "

The official notification of Lt. Deen's, death stated that he was lost "over France." He was a bomber pilot and it is believed he was flying a B-26 at the time of his death.

NOTE: Lt. Deen was born in Orange Hammock, Flagler County, Florida on 23 Feb 1918. He was the son of James Emmett Deen and Ethlyn Winifred "Ethel" Sisco. On 26 Apr 1942 in Collier County, Florida, he was married to Martha J. Schultz (1920-1998).

Joy's bomber unit's target was a railway bridge at Nantes, crossing the river Loire, which was attacked on 19 Jul 1944 and good results were reported by returning crews, some telling of direct hits on the bridge and many near misses.

Moderate to intense accurate HFF was encountered in the target area and two ships were lost.

The plane piloted by 1st Lt "Joy" M Deen of South Miami, Fla was hit by flak in the target area and smoke was seen coming from the right engine. The aircraft went out of control, turned over on its back and was lost in the clouds. Two chutes were seen to open.

Other members of the crew were: 1st Lt Joseph P Gonat, co-pilot, New York City; 2nd Lt Carl H Sinn, navigator-bombardier, Philadelphia, Pa; S/Sgt James E Fox, engineer-gunner, Hamilton, Ohio; T/Sgt John F Williams, radio-gunner, Salem, Ore; and S/Sgt Charles I Abady, tail gunner, Brooklyn, N.Y."

The only crew member to survive was James Fox who was taken prisoner and housed in Stalag 4B Muhlberg Sachsen 51-13

The French Memorial to Lt Joy Monroe Deen may be found on line at:

Lt. Deen's military medals are on display at the Flagler County Historical Society Museum in Bunnell.