Joseph Ellsworth Durham, Jr. was born August 16, 1915 at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar. to Joseph Ellsworth, Sr. & Lydia Alice Swearengin Durham. December 17 1938 Joe married Geraldine Beene in Fort Smith, Ar. Seven months later on July 26, 1939 they were divorced. Joe was an avid golfer. He was mentioned in the Fort Smith, Ar newspapers 134 times between January 1932 - December 1939. He became the golf pro at the Rolling Knowles Golf Club in Fort Smith after the war. His record shows his Prewar occupation was in Arkansas, USA in 1939. He was a "Golf professional." October 16, 1940 Joe registered for the military draft at Fort Smith, Ar. and in 1940 he joined the RAFVR, (Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve). and became part of the 121st Eagle Squadron in Great Britain. He did service pilot training in the U.S. in Tulsa, Oklahoma before being shipped overseas to ETO, (European Theater of Operations) operational training at OTU, (Operational Training Unit) assigned to 121 Squadron. The first of the notes on his duties was while he was in service pilot training he had a Forced Landing Engine Failure 4 miles NW of Rosebud, Texas USA. This got him the nickname of "Tex". Joseph Ellsworth Durham was a Petty Officer Pilot with Unit: 121st Eagle Squadron. He was sent to Meerseyside, UK on 14 May 1941, No. 121 was reformed at Kirton-in-Lindsey as the second 'Eagle' Squadron to be manned by American volunteers. Equipped with Hurricanes, it began defensive patrols in October but in November it converted to Spitfires. It moved to North Weald in December 1941 and in February 1942 began to take part in fighter sweeps over northern France. These continued until the Squadron was transferred to the US Army Air Force on 29 September 1942, becoming the 335th Fighter Squadron of the 4th Fighter Group at Debden. Biggin Hill MILITARY SITE : AIRFIELD An RAF Station with US lodger units. USAAF Spitfires and P-38s were attached to RAF No 11 Group stations in mid-1942 for training; also used for special operations by British and US forces. There is a book written about the Eagle Squadrons by Phillip D. Caine. http://www.uswarmemorials.org/html/people_details.php?PeopleID=3536. After the war Joe resumed his love of golfing In Fort Smith, Sebastian Co. Ar. Joseph Ellsworth Durham passed away August 19, 1991 in Fort Smith and was buried in Forest Park Cemettery there. He shares a headstone with his parents. July 4, 1934 Southwest American Fort Smith, Ar. September 24, 1945 Northwest Arkansas Times October 3, 1946 Northwest Arkansas Times