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In his first combat mission, in
November 1943, the plane he was co-piloting crash-landed on the island of Corfu after being hit by anti-aircraft fire. After four months the crew members were able to escape with the help of Italian allies, and Mr. Cotton was sent back to the U.S. to recover from
243:, on January 21, 1922, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Cotton. Cotton was a graduate of Manilla High School where he was a member of the basketball team and a 4H club member. He lived in Rush County and helped his father with work on the family farm until he reached the age of 20.
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He later attended the Empire Test Pilot School, and eventually was the chief test pilot for the Air Force. He was head of the B-58 Hustler and XB-70 test programs, and was flying in the ill-fated formation flight that resulted in
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Cotton was hired as an engineering flight test pilot for United after his military retirement. In total, he flew more than 16,000 flight hours in 80 different military bombers, fighters, transports, and civilian aircraft.
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2016 - A bridge near his hometown is named in his honor, and was dedicated on July 4th, 2017.
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Cotton died on May 5, 2016, survived by his wife Rema, and three children.
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231:(January 21, 1922 – May 5, 2016) was an American military test pilot.
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536:"Hometown names bridge after longtime Atherton resident Joe Cotton"
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malaria and return to flight school to become a flight instructor.
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United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II
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508:Gulker, Linda (14 May 2016).
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340:Air Force Commendation Medal
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354:American Campaign Medal
229:Joseph Frederick Cotton
142:United States Air Force
48:Joseph Frederick Cotton
264:Awards and decorations
445:Lancaster, California
151:Years of service
658:American test pilots
599:"House Resolution 3"
480:Farbstein, Michael.
455:Post-military career
293:Personal decorations
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154:1942–66 (24 years)
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609:. Retrieved
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578:"Joe Cotton"
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514:. Retrieved
486:. Retrieved
484:. TheAlmanac
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84:May 5, 2016
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467:References
409:with star
325:paper clip
235:Early life
98:Allegiance
67:1922-01-22
45:Birth name
512:. InMenlo
321:Air Medal
205:Spouse(s)
199:See below
186:Cold War
115:Service/
516:14 July
168:Colonel
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488:11 May
195:Awards
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76:, U.S.
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159:Rank
81:Died
61:Born
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56:Joe
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