Ammo Chief Joseph (Joe) Wata passed away in Pt. St Lucie, Florida on Monday 14th May 2018 following a short illness. Joe was born April 26th, 1931 in Torrington, Connecticut. He is survived by his wife of 21 years Helga and his son Joel, daughter Lindsay and son in law Mark; also his stepchildren Barbara, Annette and Shirley. His cremains will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia with full military honors at a future date; to be confirmed later.

Chief Wata enlisted in the fledgling United States Air Force in 1948; graduating from Primary Armament School in January 1949; after a career in Ammo/Munitions he retired in February 1970 having been promoted to Chief Master Sergeant in 1968.

Post retirement from the USAF, Joe returned to the UK and worked for some years at RAF Upper Heyford, where he was prominent in the Retired Affairs Office as Director. Later he would relocate and settle in Florida, where he met and married Helga. They initially lived for many years in Palm Beach Gardens before finally settling in Port St Lucie. During this time he volunteered and continued to serve as Director of the Retired Affairs Office at West Palm Beach.

Chief Wata was a life time member of the Ammo Chiefs Association (Membership Number 39) and has been posthumously awarded the Order of the Shell and Flame.