Joseph R. Balach
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Air Force
Joseph R. Balach
Mr. Balach entered the Army Air Corps November, 1942.
Served as a First Lieutenant and pilot with the 344th Bomb Group, bombing bridges, rail yards, airfields, and submarine pens from Paris to Holland. Flew with the first medium bombs over Normandy beachheads D-Day, June 6, 1944. He later provided close air support missions for Gen. George S. Patton's river crossings in Northern France, and the Battle of the Bulge.
Met his brother George for a family reunion at the base 20 miles northeast of Paris. Flew 57 combat missions in Europe. Returned to the U.S. in February 1945, and assigned to the Sixth Ferry Group flying A-26 medium bombers to Manila, Phillipines, during August and September.
Separated from active service October 1945.
Retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1980 from the U.S. Air Force Reserve.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, page 30.
Mr. Balach served in World War II.
He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from November 1942 until 1945. He was assigned to the 344th Bomb Group in the Mediterranean. Mr. Balach was a B-26 “Marauder” pilot. He was in Europe from January 1944 until February 14, 1945.
He participated in the D-Day invasion of Normandy; the ultimately failed Allied attempt to take a bridge at Arnhem, the Netherlands; and the Battle of the Bulge, among others.
Mr. Balach’s brother, George, was a First Lieutenant in the 99th Infantry. When he was on furlough, he located Joe Balach at the Army Air Forces base 20 miles northeast of Paris sometime after the Battle of the Bulge.
Joe Balach’s rank was Lieutenant.
He was decorated with the Air Medal with a Silver Oak Leaf cluster. After World War II, Mr. Balach joined the Reserves, where he served until 1981.
Mr. Balach was born in Duluth, Minnesota, the son of Miles and Mary Balach. He graduated from high school in 1940.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran account (see below)
"Pilot – B-26 Marauders. Europe January 1944 until February 14, 1945. D-Day, Bridge Too Far (Arnhem,), Bulge and 53 others. Older brother, George, 1t Lt., 99th Infantry. After Bulge, furlough to Paris, corralled 9th Army Air Forces patches, finally found 344th members and came to our base 20 miles northeast of Paris."
