Joseph Daniel Adrian was born on August 2, 1942, to Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Adrian. His home of record is River Edge, NJ.

Joseph graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1964 with a degree in electrical engineering. He belonged to the AIEE (American Institute of Electrical Engineers) and was in the Air Force ROTC in college. He was an avid sports fan and loved his brand new 1964 Corvette.

He entered the US Air Force and attained the rank of First Lieutenant (1LT). In December 1966, Adrian was in the first group of combat pilots to operate from the new Tuy Hoa Air Base on the South China Sea, 235 miles northeast of Saigon.

Adrian was listed as missing in action on March 12, 1967, when his F-100 Super saber fighter-bomber did not return to the base.

Synopsis (from the POW Network) as to the circumstances behind being listed as MIA:
Lt. Joseph D. Adrian was reported missing in action while on a night scramble mission in a flight of three F-100 aircrafts on March 12, 1967. Adrian’s aircraft was attempting to join the lead in a right turn when it was observed to continue the turn and disappear out of sight. The incident occurred approximately six miles off the end of the runway at Tuy Hoa off shore from Phu Yen Province, South Vietnam.

According to Air Force records, evidence (unnamed) was received on March 26, which indicated that LT Adrian died at the time his aircraft went down. As no remains were found, he is listed with honor among those missing in Southeast Asia. He is honored with a grave marker in Arlington National Cemetery. His name is also inscribed on the Court of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial in Hawaii.

Sources: POW Network, Wayne Allen (college roommate), newspaper clippings and NJVVMF.
12/17/2024