Local War Hero Joseph Sarnoski - Incredible Story (Carbondale: tenant, floor)

[scrantonluna]

I have to introduce this one in sort of a round-about fashion; I caught a special on the History Channel, maybe even up to two years ago, that told the story of a B-17 bomber crew. The tale stuck in the back of my head, and I've relayed to others what I could recall about the program due to the incredible nature of the story. I managed to come across the segement on Youtube, and imagine my surprise when I heard the name Joe Sarnoski mentioned. Could it be? It certainly could, our Joe Sarnosky of Carbondale, the same Joe Sarnoski immortalized in the naming of Merli-Sarnoski Park, and I believe possibly on Courthouse Square as well.

Here's a link, enjoy:

YouTube - Dogfights - Long Odds (3 of 5)
Last 40 seconds or so:

YouTube - Dogfights - Long Odds (4 of 5)

[scrantonluna]

From 'Wings of Valor'

Old 666 shook with the force of fire from all its nose guns, then trembled as Ooki's 20mm destroyed the cockpit. Simultaneously, Lieutenant Sarnoski fired at the Zero to the left (at the 10 o'clock position.) It erupted in front of the nose from the bombardier's accurate fire, but not before one of its own 20mm canon shattered the Plexiglas of the American bomber. Sarnoski was thrown backward, beneath the catwalk. His body was shredded with shrapnel and broken glass. A deadly gash in his side had nearly split him in half.

In the cockpit Captain Zeamer could see what was happening below. The enemy cannon had ripped huge holes in the floor of the cockpit and peppered the his own legs and feet with small pieces of shrapnel. Air screamed in through the holes in the floor, and Zeamer watched as Lieutenant Johnston rush to the mortally wounded bombardier to try to stem the flow of blood from a neck wound. Joe Sarnoski shook him off. "I'm alright," he struggled to announce. "Don't worry about me." More enemy fighters was now firing on the bomber's shattered nose, and every gun was needed in those critical moments.

Slowly, painfully, Joe Sarnoski dragged his body across a torn catwalk that was now slick with his own blood. He forced himself upright and from a crouch opened fire on a twin-engine Dinah that was moving in for the kill. Once again Sarnoski's accurate fire sent an enemy fighter down in flames, but not before more cannon fire hit the cockpit.