After 76 Years, Remains Of Needham WWII Soldier Return Home

NEEDHAM, MA — As Veteran's Day draws closer, Needham will welcome home the remains of an army lieutenant who was killed in World War II. Army Air Forces 1st Lt. Joseph E. Finneran will be laid to rest beside his mother on Friday.

Finneran, who served with the 345th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group (Heavy), Ninth Bomber Command, was killed during a raid on the Ploiesti oil refinery complex, north of Bucharest, Romania, on Aug. 1, 1943.

Finneran had completed 25 missions when he and his crewmates were lost in Operation TIDAL WAVE. For his heroism and valor during WWII, Lt. Finneran was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency positively identified Finneran's remains after 76 years.

Finneran was born and raised in Needham. He worked at the Needham Golf Course, first as a caddy, later as assistant pro. The family moved to Boston, where Finneran graduated from Jamaica Plain High School in 1939. He enlisted in the USAAF 11 days after Pearl Harbor. He was stationed in Benghazi, Libya, and was one of the very first Catholic bombardiers to participate in the bombing of Rome.

The aircraft carrying Finneran’s remains is scheduled to arrive at 6:34 p.m. Friday at Logan Airport, followed by a motorcade down the Turnpike to I-95 South to Needham. The motorcade will consist of state and local police, military personnel, the hearse and members of the Patriot Guard Riders Veterans Motorcycle Group. The motorcade will travel along Highland Ave. to Doherty Funeral Home. Finneran’s family will host a wake Friday, Nov. 8th, and funeral Saturday, Nov. 9th.