Lieutenant Joseph Lightburn Resley USN | New Mexico State University

Joseph Lightburn Resley was born in Hope NM on September 12, 1920 to Mr. and Mrs. G E Resley. The family soon moved to Las Cruces where Joe graduated from Las Cruces HS in 1937. He enrolled at NMAMC in 1938 and was an outstanding athlete, playing end for the football team as well as being an “unofficial” state champion boxer in the light heavyweight division. He left school before completing his degree to enlist in the US Navy in October 1941. He was sent to Corpus Christi NAS and on September 4, 1942 was commissioned and received his wings as a naval aviator. From there he was assigned to NAS Norfolk for patrol bomber duty as part of Navy Patrol Bombing Squadron 208 (VPB-208). The PBM was a large two engine, long-range “flying boat;” VPB-208 used them for maritime patrol, convoy coverage, anti-submarine warfare and “dumbo” (rescue) missions. From 1942 through mid 1944 the 208th served in the Atlantic and Caribbean, primarily based in Key West, FL. By mid 1944 the U-boat war was winding down and more Patrol Squadrons were needed in the Pacific Theater for the war against Japan. In August 1944 the 208th was reassigned to Norfolk, VA and began transition training for the PBM-5, an improved version of the PBM. The training continued through early fall at the NAS in Harvey Point, SC. On October 5, 1944 VPB-208 received a brand new PBM-5 Mariner BuNo 45415.

It was soon designated “Peter-9” and assigned to Patrol Plane Commander Resley and his crew, which was known as “Combat Aircrew Charlie.” Lt. Resley was an experienced pilot, who had on the night of July 4, 1944 made a one engine emergency landing at sea after suffering engine trouble. On the evening of November 30, 1944, 12 of the 208’s PBMs in 4 flights of 3 aircraft departed Alameda NAS on the trans-pacific ferry flight to Hawaii.“Peter-9” was part of this flight. The weather that night was rainy and overcast, with poor visibility. “Peter-9” was enroute to rendezvous with its flight when it developed possible engine trouble near the Golden Gate and turned back for Alameda. “Peter-9” attempted to contact Alameda Tower, but is told to “stand-by,” after that nothing more is heard from “Peter-9.” The plane clipped a telephone pole and electrical wires about a half mile before crashing into Mt Tamalpais. The crash was described as a heavy impact followed by a bounce uphill of about 50 yards, followed by an explosion. Eyewitnesses at the crash site told reporters that the nose and part of the wing remained intact. Sheet metal was found a half mile away. All 7 crew members perished in the crash. His body was recovered and returned to Las Cruces where he was buried in the Masonic Cemetery. Lt Joseph L Resley was 24 years of age at the time of his death.