Joseph Claffy

Joseph was the third child of Joseph Anthony and Marie Claffy. He grew up in Wheaton, Illinois, was a 1935 graduate of Wheaton High School, where he played in the school band. After graduation, he joined the Lee Williams band, which played venues around the Chicago area. He worked for United Airlines 1936-1937 as a statistician in the Engineering Department, then with American Airlines from late 1937 to 1941 as an agent. Joseph was a student in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. After completion, he was hired as a civilian flight instructor, Helena Aero Tech, late 1941 to early 1943. Commissioned 2nd Lt., March 1943 and assigned as Basic Flight Instructor 902nd B.F.T.S. He was transferred to the European Theater early in 1944, where he flew with the 310th and 325th Ferrying Squadrons, 8th Air Force. He was stationed at Burtonwood and Wharton, among others. He married Jocelyn Ruth Tracht July 13, 1948 in Fort Worth, Texas, where he worked as a flight dispatcher for Central Airlines. Later Central was purchased by Frontier Airlines and the family moved to Colorado. He retired in 1986. He had a lifelong love of music, art, photography and flying. He will be sorely missed by his daughter, Eileen, his son-in-law Richard Coffey, and numerous nieces and nephews.