Born in Pasadena, California, Michael Alba grew up in Simi Valley where his family worked in the orchards. He was a 1937 teammate of future baseball star Jackie Robinson at the Pasadena City College, practicing on Catalina Island with the Cubs team. Michael graduated in 1942 from the University of Redlands on a full tennis scholarship. In August 1942, he enlisted in the Air Corps and at the end of his Aviation Cadet training program, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the USAAF on 5 December 1943. Assigned to the 55th Fighter Group/338th Fighter Squadron in England, he served in that unit from 14 June to 10 July 1944. Detached on that date until 27 July 1944 to the 339th Fighter Group/505th Fighter Squadron, he returned to the 55th/338th on 28 July and was promoted to 1st Lieutenant on 4 August. Ending his combat tour on 12 December 1944, he was assigned to the 70th Replacement Depot in Stone, Staffordshire.

Michael Alba is credited with :

* 1 Heinkel He-111 destroyed on the ground at Giessen, Germany on 12 September 1944

* 1 Me109 destroyed in air combat over the Eisenach and Gotha area, Germany, on 13 September 1944

* 1 Me109 destroyed and 1 damaged on the 2 November 1944 escort mission of bombers to Merseburg, Germany.

After the war, Michael Alba served in the early 50s as an Air Attaché, Air Operations Officer in Latin America and was a member of the Inter-American Defense Board. An advisor on Operations and Training, he was instrumental in the creation of the Venezuela, Honduras and Uruguay air forces. He ended his Air Force career as a Lt Colonel. Michael Alba, who was an avid golfer (he was lovingly known to his friends as “the greatest 80-year old golfer”), served as President of the 55th Fighter Group and 442nd Air Service Group associations and was instrumental in the dedication of the P-38 and P-51 memorials at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs.