Josef was born in Essen, Germany in 1904 and immigrated to Israel in 1931 were he worked as a labourer and carpenter in agriculture and construction. He enlisted in 1940 and records state that he enlisted ‘locally’ in British Mandate Palestine. He was based at Sudar Bay in Crete. The 113 Squadron record book states that the airfield was strafed by M.E. 110’s and one airman was killed. Josef is not named but is the only death on that date.