Joseph John Bottalico Jr.
First Lieutenant Joseph John Bottalico Jr., Marine Bomber Squadron VMB-612, U.S. Marine Corps. He lived at 816 South 5th Street, Camden NJ. Buried at New Camden Cemetery, Plot 370 Grave 3, NE Corner of Mount Ephraim & Ferry Avenues, Camden NJ.
First Lieutenant Joseph James Bottalico, Jr. was born on February 3, 1920 in Haddonfield NJ. He grew up in Camden NJ, where his family lived at 816 South 5th Street. His father worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad. Joseph Bottalico Jr. attended Burrough Junior High School in Camden, and was a graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School in Camden, where he was a star athlete, and was the captain of the football team. While in High School, he served a two year term in the National Guard, from 1937 to 1939.
Joseph Bottalico obtained a scholarship to Brown Prep, and had enrolled at William and Mary, also on scholarship, in Williamsburg VA when the war broke out. He enlisted while at William and Mary, and was activated as an aviation cadet in June of 1942. His pre-flight training was done at Athens GA, where he was ninth in his class. He had been sent to the Anacostia Naval Air Station in Washington DC for preliminary flight training in August of 1942, according to the September 2, 1942 edition of the Camden Courier-Post. The Courier reported on February 2, 1943 that he had been sent to the Naval Air Station at Pensacola FL for flight training. Upon completion of this training Joseph J. Bottalico Jr. was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps.
On December 18, 1943 it was reported in the Camden Courier-Post that he had been promoted to First Lieutenant, and that his brother PFC Nicholas Bottalico was with a Marine aviation unit at Pollocksville Field NC.
Joseph J. Bottalico Jr. trained as a bomber pilot, and went overseas as a member of Marine Bomber Squadron VMB-612 in May of 1944, flying North American PBJ-1H bombers, the naval version of the B-25 Mitchell bomber. He was killed with 4 others of his crew when his aircraft #35239 crashed near the end of the runway when flying off of the newly captured island of Iwo Jima on April 20, 1945. By the time he was killed he had logged over 1200 hours of flight time. During the Iwo Jima operation he had flown 25 missions against the island prior to its capture, and his group had sunk 25 Japanese ships during this operation. Another Camden man also served with VMB-612. Technical Sergeant Frank Brown was lost in July of 1945 when his plane failed to return from a bombing mission.
Joseph James Bottalico, Jr. was survived by his parents, who lived at 816 South 5th Street in Camden NJ, two sisters, and four brothers. His brother, Nicholas, who was also in Marine Aviation aboard a carrier in the Philippines at the time. After the end of hostilities his body was brought home, and he was buried at New Camden Cemetery in Camden NJ on April 17, 1948.
Name Student Aides at Woodrow Wilson
Camden Courier-Post —
Association Groups, Girls’ Sports Managers Are Appointed
Student Association committees for the new school term have been appointed recently at Woodrow Wilson High School. Managers of girls’ sports also have been named for the Girls’ Athletic Association at the school.
Members of the Student Association committees are:
Attendance—Irene Chonto, chairman; Anne Stasiewicz, Mary Marsh. Bulletin Board — Betty Chesshire, Ruth Calvert, Rosemary Straub. Welfare—Pearl Shepacarter. Athletic— Brewster Bragg, Joseph Bottalico, Harry Oldt, Joseph Maichlik, Harry King, Golda Harper, Elizabeth Nicktern, Jane Harford, Peggy Gleason, Isabella Cleary.
Social Dance — Martha Griffin, chairman; LeRoy Seeds, vice-chairman; Elva Hinkle, Dorothy Heston, Helen Summers, Ruth Calvert, DeLyle Harrigyle, Martha Zilg, Charles Grigley, Harry Howell, Frank DeJong, Albert Pierce, Longrotta, Robert Biehler.
Managers of girls’ sports are Geraldine Kraut, volley ball; Florence Falkinberg, tumbling; Sylvia Rosenberg, quoits; Thelma Storm, swimming; Marian Converse, bowling; Georgina Osborne, statistical secretary. Badminton is being entered as another sport in the athletic association.
January 1939 — Woodrow Wilson High School Yearbook
Joseph Bottalico — January 1939 Woodrow Wilson High School Yearbook.
June 1939 — Woodrow Wilson High School Yearbook
Joseph J. Bottalico — June 1939 Woodrow Wilson High School Yearbook.
Joe Battalico Graduates from Pre-Flight School
Camden Courier-Post —
Ex-Wilson High Athlete Ranked Ninth in Class; Won Boxing Title
WARNS PENN GRIDDERS
Joe “Bottles” Battalico, former football captain at Woodrow Wilson High School, has graduated from the Navy Pre-Flight Training School in Athens, Ga.
Home on leave until Monday, Joe said he is due to report at Anacostia, near Washington, D. C., for flight training. “Bottles” finished ninth in the graduating class and found time to win the heavyweight championship of his group.
Declaring himself in perfect physical condition at 200 pounds, the downtown resident said Penn is headed for a lot of trouble on Sept. 26 when it meets the Georgia Pre-Flight Training School gridders. After watching Frank Filekock, Darrell Tully and Bill Patterson fill the air with passes for the past two weeks, not to mention the bone-shattering line play of former professional league stars, the ex-Wilson High gridder believes the Georgia team will go through its 10-game schedule undefeated. They practice two hours every day and scrimmage at least three times a week.
“I believe it’s the best team in the country. I’ll bet they knock he — out of Penn,” he added.
Joe said he worked hard and put in a lot of hours studying. After six months flight training, he continued, I expect to spend three more on reconnoissance work. Once finished, Cadet Battalico will become and ensign.
The ex-Wilson High athlete is thrilled with his success and likes the Navy life. We work hard all day but we’re in the best of physical condition. It’s a lot of fun.
In closing, “Bottles” predicts Georgia’s Frank Sinkwich, All-America back last season, will outdo his ’41 playing. He’s really hot.
Military Rites Set For Lt. Bottalico
Camden Courier-Post
A military funeral will be held Saturday for Lt. Joseph J. Bottalico Jr., 24, who lived at 816 South Fifth street, and who was killed in a plane crash on Iwo Jima April 20, 1945.
Solemn requiem Mass will be celebrated at 9 a. m. in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church. Relatives and friends will meet at the residence at 8 a. m., where friends may call Friday night.
Lieutenant Bottalico was well known in Camden as a star athlete. He captained the football team at Woodrow Wilson High school, and won a scholarship to Brown Prep where he also captained the football team. He later entered William and Mary college, from where he went into the service as a naval aviation cadet in June, 1942.
Three veteran posts will take part in the funeral. They are the Lt. Joseph Bottalico-Mt. Carmel post 4, Italian-American War Veterans, which was named in his honor; the General Ferraro post 3, War I vets, Italian-American post, and the Marine Corps League.
Arrangements for the military funeral were made by John Grasso, commander of Bottalico post; Frank Fatale, adjutant, and Frank Narciso, past commander.
The three posts will march to the residence Friday night. They will meet at Bottalico post headquarters at 410 Walnut street.
Surviving are his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Bottalico; two sisters, Mrs. Clarence Paluscio, Allentown, Pa., and Mrs. William Ridgway, Camden, and four brothers, Michael, Nicholas, John and Thomas, all of Camden.