"So we sang 'The Beer Barrel Polka' as the American National Anthem." (Audio Interview, 24:49)

Joseph E. Murray

War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Army Air Forces/Corps Unit: 27th Troop Carrier Squadron, 14th Air Force (Flying Tigers) Service Location: China-Burma-India (CBI) Theater Rank: First Lieutenant Place of Birth: OH

As a pilot who served with the Flying Tigers and flew supplies from India to China during World War II, Joseph Murray had one amazing adventure. Returning from China with four passengers, he saw both of his plane's engines die within minutes of each other. After everyone had bailed out, Murray found one elderly man who was insisting he stay aboard the plane, so Murray crash landed it in a river. The two men made it to shore, were picked up by Chinese villagers, and were reunited with all but one of the rest of the flight (only the co-pilot didn't survive his parachute jump). The Chinese celebrated with their new-found friends and returned them to safety, asking only that the food consumed at the celebration dinner be replaced.