Melvin Ralph Hecker
MilitaryR Hecker
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
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- 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
- 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
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
31 July 1944 Roster AAF #124 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia