Melvin Ralph Hecker

Military
A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship media-380068.jpg FRE 1271 A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship, land after leading a flight to Berlin.' CPT Mel Hecker (right), an original 381st Lead Pilot completed 25 missions leading the Group over Berlin on March 8, 1944. The Group CO is 2nd from right and was co-pilot for the mission. Base is Ridgewell. Roger Freeman Collection

R Hecker

Object Number - FRE 1271 - A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's...

Commercial pilot at age 18 in Chicago, IL. Enlisted January 5, 1942. Pinned wings at Ellington Field, TX Oct, 1942 (42-J). Original Pilot with 535th & 532nd Sqd, 381st BG, later Ops Officer with 701st Sqd, 445th BG, attended C&GSS late 1944, later Aide-de-Camp to CG, Western Training Command. Mustered out of service 1946. Died 1975.

 

Awards: DFC, AM (4OLC), American Campaign, EAME (4BS), WWII Victory.

Connections

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Units served with

The insignia of the 381st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment
A pathfinder B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-51681) of the 453rd Bomb Group flies in formation with a fellow Liberator of the 453rd and and a pathfinder Liberator of the 445th Bomb Group. Image via Alan Rowsell.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 20811758
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group Headquarters (381st Bomb Group)
  • Highest Rank: General
  • Role/Job: Commanding Officer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33250018
  • Role/Job: Airplane Armorer-Gunner, Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 2nd Combat Bomb Wing 445th Bomb Group 453rd Bomb Group 703rd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-433210
  • Highest Rank: Brigadier General
  • Role/Job: Aircraft Commander; Operations Officer; Chief of Staff

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Big Time Operator II
  • Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 360th Bomb Squadron 532nd Bomb Squadron
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: The Uncouth Bastard
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 381st Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron 535th Bomb Squadron
A bomber crew of the 381st Bomb Group return to base after a mission in their B-17 Flying Fortress (serial number 42-31761) nicknamed "Rotherhithe's Revenge". Image stamped on reverse: 'Sunday Pictorial for Censor.' [stamp], 'Passed for publication 10 Mar 1944.' [stamp] and '310673.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: 'BACK FROM BERLIN. Scenes this week at a Bomber station of the U.S. Air Force , somewhere in England. The crew of the Flying Fortress "Rotherhithe's Revenge", a British subscribed ship
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: Rotherhithe's Revenge
  • Unit: 381st Bomb Group 533rd Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Born

Chicago, Illinois, USA 15 March 0020 Born Chicago, Illinois

Enlisted

Chicago, Illinois 5 January 1942 Enlisted Chicago, Illinois

Enlisted

Commissioned

Ellington Field, Texas 9 October 1942 Commissioned 2nd Lt Ellington Field, Texas

Other

Discharged

4 April 1946

Died

1 March 1975

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Brought in information from duplicate record. Source:
381st Bomb Group Memorial Association, March 1999 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Date
ContributorDoc Hecker
Changes
Sources

Doc Hecker

Date
ContributorDoc Hecker
Changes
Sources

RB Hecker

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

31 July 1944 Roster AAF #124 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia

Melvin Ralph Hecker: Gallery (2 items)