Joseph P. Scaglione of Norwood, New Jersey was drafted into the United States Air Force on March 3, 1943. After being drafted Joe began his Basic Training in Miami Beach, FL, from there he went to Radio School in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and then to Gunnery School in Kingman, Arizona and finished his training at Crew Training in Pyote, Texas.

From there he would go on to fly B17-G's in England. On June 6th, 1944 Joe was sent to Molesworth and assigned to the 303rd BG 427th Squadron to fly as a spare radio operator for 3 missions and was then assigned to Jack Rose's crew. After 33 missions (all into Germany) they were shot down on January 13, 1945 over Mannheim, Germany. The crew bailed out of the burning plane they called "The Red" (#166) and after evading immediate capture they walked for 6 days but were finally apprehended near the French Border at Pirmasens. They they were taken to camps Wetzlar and Nurnburg and were forced to march to Moosburg.

After nearly 4 months Patton's Army liberated their camp on April 29th, 1945. Joe received the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, the POW Medal, Good Conduct, the European Middle Eastern Campaign with 3 Bronze Stars, the American Campaign, and the World War II Victory Medals. He was discharged on October 23, 1945.

Back home, Joe went on to work at a construction company for a few years before opening his own business in Landscape Gardening. He retired in 1986 and still lives in his hometown Norwood NJ with his wife Irene.