Melvin Herman Litke
Military
Object Number - UPL 15002 - Original caption : "A bomber crew of the 96th Bomb Group led by Second Lieutenant Charles Geyer, with their B-17 Flying Fortress." Picture taken on 3...
Melvin Litke served as a Radio Operator/Gunner in the 96th Bomber Group / 413th Bomber Squadron. A member of the original Charles F. Geyer crew he was not on board Geyer's B-17 Serial 42-3439 when it was shot down on 20 October 1943, having been replaced by Sgt Aaron M. Becker. Melvin Litke flew 50 missions over Europe. He was a senior designer at General Motors for 42 years retiring in 1982. He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothea Litke (1918-1999).
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31016678 and O-736630
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 388th Bomb Group 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron 563rd Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 14078651 and O-793406
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Pilot
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 33273658
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: waist gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32416220
- Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
- Role/Job: Engineer / Top Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 19140382
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Aircraft
- Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
- Unit: 96th Bomb Group 413th Bomb Squadron
Places
- Site type: Airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Born |
Michigan, United States | ||
|
Enlisted |
Detroit, Michigan, United States | 1942-08-29 | |
| Détroit, Michigan, United States | |||
|
Died |
Livonia, Michigan, United States | 2014-12-16 | |
|
Buried |
Glen Eden Lutheran Memorial Park, Livonia, Michigan, United States |
Revisions
NARA WWII Enlistment records
Obituary
Snetterton Falcons pg 60 / Drawn from the records of the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Savannah, Georgia