94 Year Old World War II Airman Dies During Return Trip To England

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WhatInThe

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A 94 year old World War II Airman passed away while on a trip/return trip to England for the first time in 71 years/since the war. He served as a radio operator on a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber taking part in 8 combat missions with his plane receiving damage in 4. A veterans group had arranged the tour for which he eagerly waited. He had just completed a tour of a WW II bunker when he collapsed. Literally and figuratively his last tour.

What was supposed to be brief & small ceremony before heading back to the states turned into a full fledged memorial with more people than expected.

RIP U.S Air Force Master Sergent Melvin Rector.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news...-94-dies-quietly-at-battle-of-britain-bunker/
 

Falcon said:
Too bad. There not many of us left. I piloted a B-26 Martin Marauder in that same time..
Click to expand...
'

A rare breed. I salute you sir!

I was glad to see more showed up at his service and had an appreciation for the World War II veteran.
 

I got in only 15 Lon, but was scheduled for more but the targets were overtaken by Patton's ground troops.

Even our secondary targets had been overtaken and we had to bring the bombs home with us; a very hazardous undertaking.

Once we came back with 32 holes in the airplane due to intense flak. Both ships on either side of me were shot down; no chutes
were seen. This was in April of '45. Then on May 8th, it was all over. We all pulled out our 45s and fired them in the air.

My crew and I got 3 Air Medals out of it; now hanging on my office wall.
 
"only 15 "

Only? Only?

With an overall 16% survival rate or thereabouts?

Don't knock it Falcon, you done good and as a Brit I'm damned grateful.
 

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