Joseph Elliott Chineworth (1923 - 1991)

Born 13 Jul 1923 in Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Marion Evelyn (Burrows) Chineworth — married 22 May 1944 in Alabama City, Etowah, Alabama, United States

Died 26 Jun 1991 at age 67 in Rock Island, Rock Island, Illinois, United States

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Biography

Joseph Chineworth is a part of US Black heritage.

Joseph Chineworth is a Military Veteran.
Served in the United States Army Air Force 100th Fighter Squadron 1944-1945
Tuskegee Airman flying Ace

Joseph Elliott Chineworth was born on 13 July 1923 in Rock Island, Illinois.

In the 1930 census he was six years old and living in Rock Island with his family: parents Alexander and Victoria, two older sisters Magdaline and Innocence, and one older brother Alexander Jr. His father was a shoemaker.^[1]

He graduated from St. Joseph's High School in Rock Island and later attended St. Ambrose College and earned a degree in podiatric medicine from Northwestern University.^[2]

In the 1940 census he was 16 years old and living in Rock Island with his widowed mother, grandmother, and brother Alexander. ^[3]

On 14 December 1942, Joseph enlisted in the military. He was 18 years old and working at the Rock Island Arsenal. He was 5 feet 8¼ inches tall, and weighed 176 pounds.^[4]

On 22 May 1944 he married Marion Evelyn Burrows in Alabama City, Etowah County, Alabama.^[5]

On 23 May 1944 he graduated from the Tuskegee Flight School as a member of Class SE-44-E at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama.^[6][7]

Joseph was deployed to Europe with the 100th Fighter Squadron of the 332nd Fighter Group where he served as a combat fighter pilot and attained the rank of 1st Lieutenant. On 24 March 1945 he experienced an air battle with German Messerschmitts above Berlin, and wrote this account, which was reprinted in the book "Tuskegee Airmen" by Barry M. Stentiford:^[2]

At approximately 1215 hours while engaged in escorting B-17’s of the 5th Bomb Wing, my flight was attacked by three (3) ME-262’s. I was flying number two position and was at 29,000 feet at the time of the attack. The jets came in from ten o’clock low and passed under us, making a fairly tight 180 degree turn to the left. At this time we were to the left of the bombers and above them.

While the jets were in their turn, we dropped tanks and started a dive to the left of the enemy aircraft, pursuing them for 5,000 feet downward. At this point I lost my flight leader and picked up the number four man in our flight. Together, we went after another ME-262 that had just passed in front of us. I made a ninety degree left turn and was on the tail of the jet about 1,500 feet away. I fired three long bursts and then my guns stopped. I saw hits and pieces flew off his plane. Black smoke came from the enemy aircraft as he started into what appeared to be an uncontrolled dive.

I had used a five to a zero degree deflection shot at him and my ship was equipped with the new K-14 gun sight. As I was pursuing the jet, I had my throttle full forward but I did not notice my air speed or manifold pressure at the time, but as I pulled away I was indicating from 355 to 375 MPH at 17,000 feet. My attack lasted for about five minutes.

After the war Joseph and Marion raised three sons: Joseph Jr, Michael, and Mark. In the 1950 census he was living in Chicago with his wife and oldest son and working as a material clerk for a rural electrification project.^[8] Later he "practiced podiatry for over 20 years until he bought a drugstore and soda fountain business on 47th and Drexel in Chicago which he named 'Jo-Mar' for he and his wife. This was a family operated business where he was affectionately known in the neighborhood as 'Doc.'"^[2]

He passed away on 26 June 1991 in Rock Island and was buried there at Rock Island National Cemetery.^[9][10]

Sources

1. ↑ 1930 Census - "United States Census, 1930", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X3MM-P4J : Tue Oct 03 00:35:55 UTC 2023), Entry for Alexander Chineworth and Victoria Chineworth, 1930.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2} Biography of Joseph E. Chineworth, Sr. - The Chicago "DODO" Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen Inc., bio with photographs. TAI Chicago Website
3. ↑ 1940 Census - "United States Census, 1940", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWZ4-FRD : Thu Oct 05 17:37:19 UTC 2023), Entry for Victoria Chineworth and Frances Lichiker, 1940.
4. ↑ World War II Registration Card - Fold3.com. US, WWII Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946. Joseph Elliott Chineworth. Fold3 Sharing Image.
5. ↑ Marriage Record - "Alabama County Marriages, 1809-1950", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q216-C1L9 : Fri Oct 20 05:42:01 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph E Chineworth and Alexander Chineworth, 22 May 1944.
6. ↑ Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Graduates - Tuskegee University, Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Listing. Website: Tuskegee Airmen Pilot Graduates
7. ↑ Photo of Class SE-44-E - CAF Rise Above Website: Photo of Class SE-44-E.
8. ↑ 1950 Census - "United States 1950 Census", , FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6X1G-TLCC : Tue Oct 03 16:31:12 UTC 2023), Entry for Joseph Chineworth and Marion Chineworth, 10 April 1950.
9. ↑ Death Record - "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV92-QWRJ : 17 March 2020), Joseph Chineworth, 26 Jun 1991; citing Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States, source reference , record number , Cook County Courthouse, Chicago; FHL microfilm .
10. ↑ Find a Grave - database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/2885429/joseph-elliott-chineworth: accessed 11 November 2023), memorial page for Joseph Elliott Chineworth (13 Jul 1923–26 Jun 1991), Find a Grave Memorial ID 2885429, citing Rock Island National Cemetery, Rock Island, Rock Island County, Illinois, USA; Maintained by Sue Butterfield Picard (contributor 47207644).