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Gerald Jules Joseph h, a bomber pilot with the RAF in World War II, is on his last mission. A resident of Albuquerque since 1949, he died at his home in Albuquerque on September 4, 2004. Gerald was born on April 12, 1918 to the late Stanley and Germaine Joseph of Hove, Sussex, England. Survivors include his wife of 34 years, Colleen Mulvaney Joseph; Children Marilyn Posner of Dix Hills, NJ; sons Paul and Patrick of Albuquerque, six grandchildren and a sister Vivian in Edinburgh, Scotland. After completing his education, Gerald worked for the Handley-Page aircraft company as an assembly line worker. He joined the RAF in 1939 and went on to become a bomber pilot, completing 22 missions over enemy territory. At a time when the RAF was suffering a 25% loss on many missions, Gerald was in double jeopardy because he was Jewish and the Nazis didn't treat the Jews very well. After completing additional training, he was posted to India, his ship going trough aircraft and submarine attacks as it crossed the Mediterranean Sea. In India he was promoted from Sergeant to Flight Officer and flew many different types of US and RAF aircraft while assigned to a repair and overhaul base. He also helped to train US Army Air Corps flyers in B-24 bombers in gunnery and tight formation flying. Following the war, he started his own electrical business in Manchester. In 1949 his sister Claudine Hoyt, who lived in Albuquerque invited Gerald and his family to visit and they crossed the Atlantic on the Queen Mary. Claudine and her husband Gwynn operated Hoyt's Dinner Bell on East Central. Gerald and family decided to stay in Albuquerque and he took over an electric service business and started The Lighting Center on East Central, which he operated until 1973. In the early '70's he became interested in building custom homes and has built 35 homes since then. Building homes was the joy in his life and he helped to design many of the southwest style homes which were mostly built in the North Valley of Albuquerque. He was proud that both of his sons are successful builders. Gerald and Colleen loved travel and they visited many countries in Europe and South Pacific islands. One of his proudest moments was when crossing the Atlantic on the Concorde; the crew let him sit in the jump seat in the cockpit at Mach 3 and for the landing in New York because of his service in WWII. He was a member of the Albuquerque Homebuilders Association and an affiliate member of the 8th Air Force Association. He was also an avid skier and photographer. The Memorial service will be for family only. The family has requested that there be no flowers, but that donations in Gerald's memory be sent to Heartland Hospice Memorial Fund.
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